Chapter 224: Hezhou

"Let me tell you, if you come to Anqing, come find me. Just ask around the docks for Tan Ya — there's not a soul who won't know the name. In all of Anqing City, who'd dare cross Tan Ya? You come, you definitely come find me. Food and lodging, all on me."

On the twenty-fifth day of the twelfth month, inside Hezhou city, Tan Laizi sat high and mighty in a seat by the door of a food stall, spraying spittle as he held forth to a crowd of refugees squatting outside.

A gaunt, shriveled old man with a hunched back said hopefully, "This Tan Ye, since we can't get to that Anqing of yours, could today's food and lodging be on you anyway?"

"Looking at your age, how come you still don't understand how things work? Tan Ye's here in Hezhou on official business — how much silver could he possibly carry on him?"

Having said this, Tan Laizi picked up his wine and drank a cup by himself, then picked up a piece of tofu and put it in his mouth, chewing with great relish.

After the initial terror, Tan Laizi discovered that Hezhou's city defenses were solid. The walltops were densely arrayed with firearms. The yamen and great households in the city had stockpiled several years' worth of grain. Supplies like stone, kerosene, lime, and straw bundles were beyond counting. Each ward had also mobilized Community Soldiers, just like Tongcheng.

With no news of the Roving Bandits these past two days, he was no longer too worried about his safety, so Tan Laizi began to contentedly enjoy his treatment of two mace of silver per day. When he set out, the Canal Gang had given him five taels of silver. Tan Laizi's purse was rarely this flush. With money came confidence; he walked the streets with a swagger, as if even his scabby head had cleared up.

As a man of means, Tan Laizi had always been more particular about food than about lodgings. At Wang Family Food Stalls inside the south gate, he'd shared a private room with someone. Many food stalls at this time also ran lodging, providing travelers a full suite of services, and could even help arrange contacts with brokerages, hire beasts of burden, find passenger boats, and so on — a very rich variety of business.

The prices at Wang Family Food Stalls were fairly decent. Lodging was three fen of silver per day. Tan Laizi planned to spend seven fen of silver a day on food, which would still let him save one mace of silver. If he stayed a full month, he'd net three taels. But in reality, it was hard to eat through seven fen of silver a day at Wang Family Food Stalls; two fen of silver could get you a very hearty meal.

So every day he ate downstairs, then took a walk around the city. Since both lay along the Great River, Anqing and Hezhou had close ties, and his accent didn't draw groundless suspicion. He was now starting to believe that Gangzhu Jiang was doing him a favor, giving him such a fine assignment.

Squatting outside the stall were Hezhou folk from Guanxiang, who'd entered the city to flee the bandits. None could afford room fees. After the food stall closed for the night, they'd scrape together a few copper coins for the owner and spread their own bedding on the main hall floor to sleep. During the day, when the stall was open for business, they'd move back outside. They could only eat very little each day, squatting out there waiting for some generous patron to bestow a bit.

These were people at the very bottom of society. Tan Laizi counted as a big spender in the food stall, basking in the reverent gazes of those common folk. Occasionally he'd be generous too, sharing some food with them to repay their reverence — after all, seven fen of silver could order quite a spread.

Today, Hezhou had turned cold again. The people outside squatted huddled together, the bedding they'd brought draped over their legs, hands all tucked into sleeves, some with faces wrapped in old clothes, only their eyes showing, offering Tan Laizi endless reverence.

That dried-up old man couldn't speak properly and had spoiled Tan Ye's mood. There probably wouldn't be any food given out now. Everyone muttered their reproach, and the old man could only shrink back timidly.

Another young man wearing a dog-fur hat said ingratiatingly, "Brother Tan, you've really got grit, still running all over the place at a time like this."

"'Grit' — well put." Tan Laizi thought for a moment, then casually grabbed a steamed bun and tossed it over. The young man was overjoyed; just saying one line had earned him food. He quickly shielded it and went to share with his family.

The old man's family couldn't help grumbling at him again. Tan Laizi chuckled to himself. The effect was astonishingly good. Let's see who'd dare not fall in line with Tan Ye's wishes from now on.

Thinking this, he glanced again into the crowd of people, each wrapped up like a zongzi, impossible to even tell men from women. Otherwise, Tan Ye would have been prepared to give special attention to those pretty girls — giving them a few extra buns wouldn't hurt. Back in Anqing, no family was willing to marry their daughter to him, and he couldn't afford to buy one either. Now, following the Canal Gang really was different. He'd gotten two sums of silver; buying a woman was no problem. If there was a pretty one in Hezhou, that'd be fine too.

He was just looking with his head cocked when suddenly there was an uproar on the street outside. Townsfolk in the street fled in panic. Numerous diners hurried out of the shop.

The food stall owner had just returned. Tan Laizi quickly grabbed him. "What's happening in the city?"

The owner said urgently, "The Roving Bandits have reached Hanshan! People from Hanshan are all fleeing toward Hezhou."

"Hanshan." Tan Laizi quickly racked his brain. On the boat, that Triple Cudgel had told him about it too. Nearby there seemed to be Chao County, Quanjiao, Hanshan — but which was far and which was near, he couldn't remember.

Someone outside shouted, "The city gates are about to close! If you're leaving the city, hurry up and go!"

"There are two boats crossing the river at the docks. If you're late, they'll be gone."

The street was in chaos. Vendors' carrying poles were knocked over by the rushing crowd; all sorts of small wares spilled to the ground, trampled underfoot. The vendors shouted loudly, but no one paid them any mind.

Tan Laizi jolted alert. If the city gates closed, he wouldn't be able to get out and deliver his message. The river-crossing boats were even more critical. His little Foot Boat very likely couldn't make it across the river's heart; he'd have to rely on a big boat. In any case, the Roving Bandits were heading this way. Crossing the river to report would let him complete his mission.

He didn't have much luggage. His lodging was already paid for; only this one meal bill was unsettled. He stole a glance back. The shop was somewhat chaotic; the Shopkeeper was giving instructions to the staff, and no one was paying attention to him. Tan Laizi turned around and melted into the flow of people on the street, hurrying toward the south gate.

Everywhere was in turmoil. Crowds ran back and forth. Copper gongs sounded from every ward, making Tan Laizi even more frantic.

He'd lodged not far from the south gate precisely to make a quick getaway. Jogging all the way, he reached Little South Gate, where a great many people were already massed. He didn't know why so many still wanted to leave the city.

The crowd was jammed up in the gate tunnel. There was still light inside, which meant the gate was open — giving Tan Laizi a sliver of hope.

Everyone else was sturdier than him. Tan Laizi couldn't squeeze in. He paced frantically outside, hearing only the sounds of quarreling within.

"By strict order of His Honor Li, to prevent Roving Bandit spies from reporting the city's true strength, the city gates permit entry only — no exit!"

"Is he going to feed us inside the city or what? My whole family's outside! Get out of the way, now!"

"I crossed the river to sell some firecrackers. If you don't believe me, ask the Shopkeeper at Yu Family Grocery. I'm still waiting to get back for the New Year."

The city gate was in an uproar. Tan Laizi racked his brain for an excuse, thinking how he'd get those yamen runners to let him out.

Suddenly, someone beside him tugged at him. Tan Laizi started and turned his head to see a richly dressed middle-aged man.

"My household's master is hiring men here to stand city defense in his place. One fen of silver a night, one meal provided each day. Are you in or not?"

Tan Laizi shook him off with a flick of his sleeve. "Get lost. Who do you think I am — Tan Ya? Silver is the one thing I'm definitely not short on! Keep that one fen of silver and play with it yourself."

The middle-aged man didn't argue with him and immediately went off to find someone else. Tan Laizi spat fiercely. Over the past two days at the food stall, he'd seen plenty of this. That Magistrate Li had ordered the city to organize Community Soldiers. Each ward was assigned a quota, and the wards distributed them to each household. Wealthy households had large quotas; unwilling to go up on the walls in this bitter cold, they were hiring people all over the city to fill their slots.

Hezhou was full of poor people, which drove the price down far too low. Tan Laizi absolutely looked down on such pay. After all, he was now a man of some standing and face.

"One fen of silver to sell a man's life — your household's master thinks pretty well of himself."

Just as he was thinking this, a startled cry went up ahead. He saw several cudgels raised, and then the crowd scattered with a roar. Tan Laizi's skill at reading a situation had been honed over many years; he bolted for the side of the street, not stopping until he reached the curb.

He saw the yamen runners and Community Soldiers at the gate chasing and beating people in all directions, dispersing everyone gathered at the gate completely. From the gate tunnel came a creaking, grinding noise — the city gate was closing. There was no getting out through the south gate now.

He reckoned all the other gates were the same. But since they'd just said "entry only, no exit," some gate must still be open, to let those common folk fleeing from Hanshan into the city.

As long as one city gate remained open, Tan Laizi could figure something out. After all, these yamen runners and Community Soldiers were all just common folk. Tan Laizi was long used to dealing with their sort; he knew how to handle them. A bit of silver could always find a way.

Spotting a yamen runner not far ahead, Tan Laizi decided to start by sounding him out — which gate was still open, exactly.

"Good thing I've got silver. Worst comes to worst, I'll just go back to the food stall." As he walked, Tan Laizi reached into his bosom. Suddenly his whole body went rigid. Then his hands flew over his body in a frantic search. The money pouch he'd carefully tucked into his bosom was nowhere to be seen.

He, a man who'd worked the docks, dealt with all sorts for ten years, a low-level brokerage hand who'd never once been robbed — at the worst possible moment to lose something, he'd managed to make his money pouch disappear.

Tan Laizi stood dumbstruck in the middle of the street, mouth agape. In the blink of an eye, that comfortable life had left him far behind. The Hezhou of now was no longer the Hezhou from before he'd lost his money pouch.

"My household's master is hiring men for city defense. One fen of silver a night, one meal provided each day. Are you in or not?"

A somewhat familiar voice came from ahead. That middle-aged man was still recruiting. Tan Laizi covered the distance in three quick strides, rushed up to the man, and bowed respectfully with clasped hands. "This sir, this humble one is willing to go. Could the silver be a bit more? Look at this cold weather."

Tan Laizi finished with a face full of ingratiating smiles. The middle-aged man recognized him at a glance.

"Didn't you have silver?" The middle-aged man chuckled. "The price now is five li of silver."

The biting river wind swept through the gaps in the battlements, swirling scattered snowflakes. Lanterns on the tall poles around gave off a faint yellow glow, the only warmth in this winter night.

Tan Laizi yelped and snatched his hand back from the icy wall, tucking it back into his sleeve — just like those refugees outside the food stall. Except they at least had their own bedding, while he had nothing but the clothes on his back.

There were indeed many Grass Depots on the Hezhou city wall, but none of them held any supplies for keeping warm. In this, they fell far short of Anqing. When Anqing was under martial law, Tan Laizi had gone up on the walls with the Canal Gang. Inside the Grass Depots there, charcoal braziers for warmth glowed bright red. They'd hang the cloth and bedding from the Hanging Curtains all around the Grass Depot. That warmth inside, compared to Hezhou, was simply heaven.

Up here on the wall, the bone-chilling cold was everywhere. His feet were nearly numb from the cold. Tan Laizi hugged his legs, but it was no use. He could only squeeze a little closer to the side, pressing tighter against the others.

The Grass Depot was crammed with a pile of people, a mix of all sorts. There were Community Soldiers from the city, and half were men hired by wealthy households to fill quotas — poor folk from the city, refugees who'd fled from Guanxiang and Hanshan. There was even a passerby like Tan Laizi. That man, though, hadn't lost his silver. He lived on the other side of the river. When he'd reached Hezhou, the river boats had been driven off, and he couldn't afford the inflated black-market boat fare, so he could only scrape by here. The one who'd hired him was a yamen runner, who'd given him two li more than Tan Laizi got.

This was Tan Laizi's first day on Night Watch. The others had already been at it two or three days. Everyone was utterly exhausted, but still, few could sleep in this frigid night. And not sleeping made them hungrier still.

Thinking back on the food at the Wang family food stall, Tan Laizi gulped down mouthful after mouthful of saliva. He didn't dare go back to the Wang family food stall. He'd already paid tonight's room fee, but he hadn't paid for the daytime meal. If he went back, not only would he not get a room, he'd most likely get a beating too. Now he had to wait until tomorrow evening, when he could get his five li of silver — only then could he buy something to eat.

"Your mother's rotten errand, Jiang Fan, you bastard." Tan Laizi muttered his curses, and his heart felt a little better.

The entire walltop was utterly silent. Everyone was fighting the bitter cold, unwilling to waste a single bit of heat.

Pressing himself a little closer against that traveler, Tan Laizi prepared to try and sleep for a while. Just as a blurry drowsiness was settling in, he suddenly heard the sound of hoofbeats coming through the silent night.

"There are roving... there are horses coming! Someone get over here!"

Tan Laizi shouted toward the walltop, but barely anyone responded. He had no choice but to stand up himself and cautiously make his way to the crenel to look down. Outside was pitch-black, nothing to see, only the scattered sound of hoofbeats drifting faintly out of the darkness.

The hoofbeats drew closer and closer. Terror gripped Tan Laizi's heart. He shouted toward the walltop, "The Roving Bandits are here! Get up, quick!"

At last, other people emerged from the Grass Depot, bringing out long spears, clubs, and the like. Some were also lighting torches. Then the local Community Soldiers started making a racket, telling everyone else to get up. The crowd on the walltop grew thicker, and the torches multiplied.

Tan Laizi relaxed a little. At least there were still people willing to defend the city. Once the walltop lit up, the outside turned even darker, without the slightest outline visible.

A Community Soldier from Hezhou bellowed out into the darkness, "What are you doing riding a horse here?"

The hoofbeats stopped, but there was no response at all. Tan Laizi's heart pounded wildly, as if the Roving Bandits were right there in the nearby darkness, ready to loose ten thousand arrows at any moment.

After a long while, a voice came out of the darkness.

"I am the Official Courier from Hanshan. His Honor the Magistrate bids me inform the Honorable Magistrate Li: the Roving Bandits have turned back toward Luzhou. They are already one hundred thirty li on the way to Shouzhou and will not be coming to Hezhou."

A burst of cheering erupted on the walltop. Someone immediately went to report to the prefectural yamen. Then a yamen runner on the walltop came over and asked, "Brother, do you have a document from Hanshan?"

The voice in the darkness said, "I came in haste. His Honor has a separate Detailed Report; it will arrive in a day or two. Hurry and open the gate to let me in."

The yamen runner on the walltop said, "The Honorable Magistrate Li has given strict orders: the city gate is not to be opened at night. We'll haul you up shortly."

"Then what about my horse?"

"It can stay below the City Wall."

The voice in the darkness immediately replied, "I get six taels of labor-and-food silver a year. If the horse gets hoisted and ruined, I can't pay for it. Anyway, the message has been delivered, so I'll be heading back now."

With that, the hoofbeats sounded again, gradually fading away toward the north.

On the walltop, everyone was talking at once, the atmosphere heated, as if this winter night was no longer quite so cold.

"The Roving Bandits can roll far away. I'm going back to Anqing." Tan Laizi grinned, turned around, and clapped the shoulder of that traveler beside him. "When you come to Anqing, just ask for Tan Ya at Wharf. There's no one who won't know the name. In all of Anqing City, who dares mess with Tan Ya? When you come, be sure to find me. Food and lodging — it's all on me."