Chapter 374: Zhang Zui Bluffs Blindly

"May I ask what goods and who exactly are being transported?"

Chen Guanlou asked cautiously.

The chief steward cast him a deep, piercing glance. "You'd be better off not knowing. The more you know, the worse it is for you."

"Is the situation truly so grave that it requires the Tianlao's name to transport the goods and people to the capital?"

If he was to carry out this mission, he needed to understand the risks. He didn't have to ask for specifics about the goods or the people, but he at least deserved to know why it was so difficult. Who was obstructing them? The government? Rival factions? What deep grudges were involved?

If danger arose, he needed to know its source so he could judge when to draw his blade. It would be fatal if he slaughtered everyone, only to be told at the last moment, "Don't kill them."

The chief steward seemed to be weighing how much to reveal, his brows lowered in deep thought.

"Bandits usually avoid official channels. The Tianlao transporting prisoners attracts less attention. Prince Chu rebelled, and the Crown Prince, serving as deputy commander, fought several battles against Chu's forces and captured many rebel officers. These rebel officers must all be transported to the capital. It's fitting for the Tianlao to handle their escort. Meanwhile, the Hou Fu's merchant caravan can follow behind you—surely they'll reach the capital safely."

Why did this suddenly involve Prince Chu's rebellion?

Everything was shrouded in fog; he refused to reveal the truth.

Chen Guanlou was also pondering the oddities of this situation.

"Complete this mission well, and you'll be richly rewarded. As for safety, martial artists will accompany you to protect your lives."

"Is there no choice but to go?"

"I hope you go. It's also the Master's wish."

Chen Guanlou wasn't surprised.

Such a major matter, wrapped in so much mystery, must have received the Master's approval before the chief steward took such elaborate steps. Otherwise, why would the Hou Fu go to such lengths over mere goods?

"Where exactly am I to escort the goods and people?"

"Suizhou Prefecture."

"Not Dangzhou Prefecture?" Chen Guanlou was startled.

"Of course not Dangzhou Prefecture. Dangzhou only carries ordinary goods. Those people would rather kill the wrong ones than let one slip away. Liu the manager was fated for this disaster, alas!"

Suizhou Prefecture was over a thousand li from the capital. Perhaps Liu's original destination had been Suizhou all along. That meant the goods and people had never been moved—Liu's group was merely a decoy, meant to mislead the enemy. And then, by sheer bad luck, they were killed.

He grew even more curious.

But he knew the chief steward would never reveal the truth to him.

He accepted the mission.

He hadn't stretched his limbs in a long time and wanted to travel, to see the world. He also wanted to glimpse a few secrets. As the saying goes: the stronger one's power, the bolder one's heart, and the greater one's curiosity.

Curiosity killed the cat—that applied only to those with weak power or ordinary people.

Below the Grand Master level, he had confidence he could fight.

Grand Masters were exceedingly rare in this world; who wouldn't treasure them?

Last time, he encountered three Grand Masters in a single night—that was an unprecedented rarity. He didn't believe such a thing could happen again.

Grand Masters weren't cabbage—they were nuclear weapons meant to deter enemies, never drawn lightly. Only someone of the old Emperor's status could gather three Grand Masters in one night.

The chief steward acted swiftly: two days later, official orders arrived, instructing the Tianlao to dispatch personnel to Suizhou to escort a batch of prisoners.

Lei Yucheng naturally assigned this mission to Chen Guanlou.

"I trust no one else. Only you can make me sleep soundly. Alas, I can't fathom what the higher-ups are thinking—normally, such tasks are given to local officials or the Liushanmen. Why now assign it to the Tianlao? It makes no sense."

"Your Excellency need not worry. Perhaps the higher-ups value the Tianlao and wish to entrust us with greater responsibility. If we handle this mission well, the Tianlao may even be expanded. Then Your Excellency's authority will surpass even its former height—congratulations, indeed!"

Chen Guanlou's flattery came effortlessly, leaving the man stunned.

"Really?" Lei Yucheng was delighted. "Little Chen, have you gotten insider news? Is there truly a plan to expand the Tianlao?"

"I don't know the specifics. But thinking positively never hurts."

"Exactly, exactly. Think positively. The Tianlao never handles outside missions—these dirty, tedious tasks always fell to the yamen runners. Now it's assigned to us—there must be deeper meaning. Perhaps the higher-ups are dissatisfied with the Liushanmen."

"Your Excellency speaks wisely—I deeply admire you!"

Flattery was Chen Guanlou's specialty—he could do it blindfolded. As long as he didn't feel sick, others would. As long as his purse wasn't touched, everything else was negotiable.

After receiving the orders and assembling his team, Chen Guanlou planned to depart the next day.

He left Xiao Jin in charge. "While I'm away from the capital, you and Wang the head clerk must manage the Jia-graded prison together. Keep order. Don't cause trouble. I've already warned Wu the head and Hong the head—they won't dare act up. If they do, don't confront them directly—go straight to Young Master Fan. Let him handle it."

Without Chen Guanlou mentioning him, everyone in the Jia-graded prison had nearly forgotten Young Master Fan existed.

Young Master Fan was the perfect absentee landlord—utterly content, utterly comfortable. He refused to come to the Tianlao. In the past, he'd come to collect money; now, the money was sent to him.

Young Master Fan found the Tianlao unlucky, its feng shui terrible. A place where people died every few days—how could its feng shui be good? Even if it had once been auspicious, so many deaths had turned it into a curse.

Young Master Fan had his own theory: he was busy with his restaurant business and refused to touch anything tainted by the Tianlao, fearing it would ruin his fortune.

In the past, he had no choice—he was the only prison clerk, so he had to show up when needed. Now that Chen Guanlou was also a prison clerk, he had fully washed his hands of it, refusing to touch even a speck of bad luck.

Xiao Jin expressed loyalty, wanting to join the mission.

Chen Guanlou dismissed him. "Don't cause trouble. Your martial skill is poor. This mission may involve unexpected dangers. I'd have to waste energy protecting you—just more hassle."

Xiao Jin: …

He was indeed lax in training and had no rebuttal.

Chen Guanlou selected a dozen strong, young, obedient, and reliable jailers to accompany him on the mission.

The Tianlao allocated five hundred taels for expenses—refund excess, cover shortages. This amount was what Chen Guanlou had fought for; the standard was a hundred taels.

The Hou Fu sent him a thousand taels as mission fees—no refunds, no supplements. They also promised a substantial reward upon successful completion.

With only one afternoon and one night left before departure:

Unexpectedly, in the afternoon, something happened.

Liu Xiang was thrown back by the Liushanmen.