Chapter 518: Ripples

At Mianyang Port in Gucheng County, large stretches of the riverbed lay exposed in the channel near the harbor. Cargo ships could not dock at the pier and had to use gangplanks to unload directly onto the riverbed.

Mianyang Port primarily supplied the Western Camp and Gucheng. Beyond the docks, half the market town was under Western Camp control.

Several Anqing officers stood at the pier's edge, watching porters unload cargo around a wooden boat. Xie Zhaofa's gaze swept over the market streets to the west. A group of Western Camp servants squatted along the roadside; the lanes behind them were utterly deserted. A few squad leaders stood among the servants, sizing up this side.

"The Western Camp isn't just buying rice and beans from Mianyang Port — they're also purchasing separately from Nanyang and Xiangyang. Seven bean transactions were traced in Nanyang, totaling over three hundred dan." Ruan Jin looked toward Xie Zhaofa. "There's considerable cart and horse traffic on the road to Fang County. Cao Cao, Hun Shiwan, and the Western Camp are in frequent contact. Based on scout reconnaissance along the routes, we estimate that fifty percent of the rice and beans the Western Camp acquires are being sent to Fang County and Zhushan. With provisions stockpiled in Fang County ahead of time, the Eight Bandits are likely pulling their old trick again — heading west into the mountains first. Where they'll emerge afterward will be hard to track."

Xie Zhaofa glanced northwest by instinct. This mountain region in the Yunyang area resembled the Dabie Mountains — the roads were in poor condition but connected four provinces. Once they entered the mountains, it was easy to block the passes, making pursuit difficult for government troops. Hampered by the communications of the time, government forces were also unlikely to race ahead and intercept them. That was why the roving bandits often used mountainous regions to shake off the army.

Right now, Cao Cao and several other camp heads were positioned to receive them in Fang County. Among them, Cao Cao's force included many veteran camps. Since the second month, they had repeatedly sortied from the mountains, bypassing Mianyang Port from the west. If something like that happened while the Anqing Battalion was attacking the Western Camp, both flanks and the rear would be exposed — at that point, even basic troop movement would become impossible.

The Anqing Battalion had suffered a devastating loss to Cao Cao at the Pure Stream River. Virtually every officer here had taken part in that battle, and they all felt it viscerally. Cao Cao and Hun Shiwan were maintaining an aggressive posture, which heavily constrained the Anqing Battalion's operations.

Xie Zhaofa withdrew his gaze from the market streets. "Has the Governor's Yamen sent any new order tokens?"

The advisor in charge of intelligence replied, "Still the same — we are not to provoke hostilities with any of the pacified camps. They claim the Western Camp is merely rioting over pay, and that Grand Coordinator Xiong is currently placating them. Perhaps they won't rebel after all."

The Thousand-General of Blacksmiths from the Marine Corps let out a heavy snort. Wang Zenglu turned to Ruan Jin. "Has the Dark Sentinel Division managed to exchange messages with the Gucheng County Seat?"

"All roads to the Gucheng County Seat are cut off. We've had no word at all from Magistrate Ruan for three days. A few days ago, the Western Camp stopped buying grain at Mianyang Port. With fewer people coming and going, it's extremely difficult for our eyes to pass along any information. The little intelligence we've gotten says the Western Camp has sealed all the gates. Coin and grain in the city have been looted clean. People are being killed in the streets — likely dozens of times over. Western Camp forces outside the city have sealed every ferry crossing and bridge. Right now, the county seat is completely cut off from people and goods. Even the county yamen's messengers to Xiangyang can't get out of the city. Only Lu Ding is still traveling back and forth to Xiangyang."

"Who exactly is he meeting?"

"Advisors, dispatchers, and other officials in Grand Coordinator Xiong's yamen. After leaving there, he goes to see Chen Hongfan and the Prefect."

Xie Zhaofa paused briefly, then said, "When the moment comes to strike, the Dark Sentinel Division is to find an opportunity to seize and arrest Lu Ding."

"Understood."

Ruan Jin answered in a low voice. The Dark Sentinel Division was directly subordinate to the Central Army, with command authority resting with Pang Yu. But isolated and far from home here in Gucheng, and in order to unify the command structure, the Dark Sentinel Division's operational authority in Huguang had been assigned to Xie Zhaofa. The other officers had no right to command them.

The other officers present did not press for details on Lu Ding's arrest. But given the assignments Lu Ding handled, he was thoroughly familiar with both the Western Camp's senior leadership and the local officials in Xiangyang. He likely held considerable leverage — useful to the Dark Sentinel Division, but of little use to the army.

"Can we confirm when the Western Camp will make their move?"

Ruan Jin shook his head. "The Western Camp's various sentries stopped purchasing household goods a month ago. They've been fattening up their horses and mules regardless of cost. The household heads in the veteran camps have already replenished their arrow stocks. They haven't bought grain anywhere for ten days. The last batch of black beans is due to arrive in Gucheng from Xiangyang the day after tomorrow. In my assessment… the rebellion should resume within a matter of days."

Xie Zhaofa thought for a moment, then turned to the waiting advisor. "Send word to Fang Military Gate and Yao Dongshan: the Western Camp is about to rebel again. Have them come according to plan."

Several officers shifted their stances. They had been garrisoned in Gucheng for over a year, watching the Western Camp transform from roving bandits into something neither fish nor fowl — a nominal allied force. After a year of tense standoff, the allies were finally about to become enemies again.

Xie Zhaofa had not followed Pang Yu's plan to the letter. With Cao Cao, Hun Shiwan, and over a dozen other camps large and small now in the vicinity, the Land Battalion had not been withdrawn to lure the bandits into an immediate revolt. Instead, the Land Battalion infantry had been kept at Mianyang Port, prioritizing the defense of this bridgehead in the standoff.

The Western Camp's unusual movements had kept the Anqing troops here in a constant state of tension. Now Xie Zhaofa had finally made up his mind. According to their contingency plan, once Yao Dongshan and the Huguang Pacification Standard reached the area, a force of that size could not be concealed. Whether the Western Camp had rebelled or not, the Anqing Battalion would launch its attack.

"The Dark Sentinel Division needs to confirm the Western Camp's launch time and direction as quickly as possible."

Ruan Jin acknowledged immediately, then steadied himself and added, "Today, two sentries in the veteran camps were spotted redeploying toward Fang County. Also, Liu Wenxiu's sentry in the veteran camp is short over a hundred men in total. Some servants seem to have vanished as well. Their whereabouts are unknown, but their family dependents are all still in Gucheng."

Wang Zenglu said to Xie Zhaofa, "If their dependents are all in Gucheng, then they haven't left early for Fang County — otherwise the dependents would have gone first. Roving thieves like to send spies ahead. Wherever Liu Wenxiu is going… that may well be where the Eight Bandits truly intend to go."

Xie Zhaofa asked Ruan Jin, "Apart from the Fang County direction, has there been any unusual activity in the cities downstream along the Han River?"

"Possible Western Camp personnel were spotted at the docks downstream on the Han, but no confirmed intelligence has come from the Wuchang docks."

"Liu Wenxiu has always been the most adept at using spies." Xie Zhaofa murmured thoughtfully, "Not Wuchang… then where would he go?"

…

The Sheng-Tang Ferry at Anqing Prefectural City was packed with boats. The Lantian Miner Uprising, which had spread into Jiangxi and southern Huguang, had been suppressed. The surrounding region had stabilized, and since the start of spring this year, there were more merchant vessels than last year.

Second Locust was stripped to the waist, a sweat cloth tied around his head. He looked no different from any other porter on the dock. He stood beneath the shop sign of a bamboo-ware store, his eyes fixed westward on the Great River Silver Bank.

A clamor of voices rose in front of the bank. Numerous porters carrying silver chests waited outside. When a merchant or boat captain at the head of the line tried to cut in, it immediately sparked an uproar. People emerging from the bank all held blue boat flags. They hurried down to the dock, hoisted the flags on their masts, and departed downstream.

The silver bank business at this dock had always been decent, but never with this many people or this much silver. Sometime around the tenth month of last year, the brokerages had been forbidden from conducting dock transactions without a banknote. Boats without a boat flag were also intercepted by the Water Army — a vessel could be impounded for a full month. After that, the bank's business grew better and better. It had bought up two adjacent storefronts and still didn't have enough space.

Second Locust had seen banknotes before. At first, he couldn't recognize most of the characters on them, but after seeing so many at the docks, he could now make out "ten taels" and "fifty taels" — the two most common denominations here.

Since the start of spring this year, the Water Army had added quite a few boats and was intercepting vessels all across the river. Even boats from Jiangxi that were already loaded were being ordered to dock for inspection. The line outside the silver bank grew longer and longer. Most people were exchanging silver for banknotes; a small number were redeeming tickets for silver.

A figure emerged from the silver bank. Second Locust retreated a little further into the bamboo-ware store, minimizing his exposed silhouette.

The household head of the Yu Baodao Banner stood in front of the bank. He carried a floral-print bundle on his back and held a smoking pipe in one hand. He paused briefly at the entrance, pretending to smoke while scanning left and right. Second Locust instinctively shrank further into the bamboo-ware store.

The Yu household head noticed nothing amiss. He turned and headed west. Second Locust spotted a familiar figure rise from the roadside — Xu Zhu also glanced around for a moment, then fell in behind the Yu household head, about five or six paces back.

Second Locust narrowed his eyes. He waited until the two had gone some distance before leaving the bamboo-ware store, trailing them from far behind. The dock was bustling with people. Second Locust hunched his body, tracking the two ahead through the gaps in the crowd.

But the Yu household head did not go far. He stopped in front of a food stall on the passenger dock. Xu Zhu crouched down by the roadside next to the stall, pulled a steamed cake from his coat, and began gnawing on it.

Second Locust had not expected them to stop so soon. He hastily yanked down a section of his sweat cloth, pretending to wipe his face, using it to shield his features.

Once he was settled squatting by the roadside, Second Locust peered past the edge of his sweat cloth toward the food stall. He saw the Yu Baodao Banner head staring continuously at the passenger dock — the area where travelers disembarked. He seemed to be waiting for someone.

Second Locust's eyes flickered. He focused intently on the passenger boats. After a moment, several people disembarked from a docked grain transport ship. The Yu Baodao Banner head immediately walked down the dock to meet them.

The person in the lead wore a straw hat. Only when the Yu household head was right in front of him did he raise his head, revealing part of his face.

Second Locust's face twitched twice. Then he saw seven or eight more people disembark from another grain transport ship nearby. Second Locust crumpled his sweat cloth into a ball, stood up, and hurried toward the city.

…

When he reached the rice and bean shop, Second Locust, who had been rushing, slowed his pace. His expression composed, he entered the storefront.

Wang Dashan, the nominal shopkeeper, greeted him. Second Locust asked casually, "Anyone else back yet?"

Wang Dashan said quietly, "None of them are back yet. The young household head said he was going outside the west city wall to see if those battalion soldiers had returned."

Second Locust nodded, pointing to a sack of bean fodder on the floor. "Keep a good eye on the shop. When Xiao Wazi gets back, have him pour this sack into the vat first — don't let the rats get to it."

Wang Dashan acknowledged. Second Locust headed toward the back. Once he entered the rear courtyard, he paused at each door to listen. After confirming no one was there, he hurried straight to the central room door.

This was the Yu Baodao Banner head's room. Normally, no one was permitted to enter. A brass lock hung from the door leaf. Second Locust pulled two thin bamboo slivers from his coat. Moments later — click — the brass lock sprang open.

Second Locust glanced behind him. Nothing was amiss in the outer section. He immediately pushed the door open and entered, heading straight for the locked drawer under the bed. Sweat streaming down his face, he soon had the brass lock open. He paused, eyes gleaming, and yanked the drawer open.

The drawer was empty — nothing inside but a single banknote. Breathing hard, Second Locust held it up before his eyes. It was a ten-tael note.

Second Locust's expression shifted several times. Swiftly, he put the banknote back, reattached the lock, and withdrew from the room.

Only after he had rehung the door lock as well did Second Locust let out a long breath. He walked slowly back to the storefront.

Besides Wang Dashan, there was one other person squatting on the floor — Xiao Wazi had returned.

Second Locust observed them carefully for a moment. Neither person in the storefront seemed out of the ordinary. He sat down in the shop as well.

Their rice and bean shop usually did business with the surrounding residents, and occasionally handled bulk sales. At this time of day, there was normally little trade.

Xiao Wazi was on the ground sorting bean fodder, all of it to be packed into grain benches and grain vats so the rats wouldn't gnaw it at night, or so it wouldn't get soaked by leaking rain — that wouldn't do either. The few of them didn't speak to one another, each just doing their own tasks.

After about half a bell had passed, Second Locust saw Yu Baodao Banner leading five or six men over from the south side. The newcomers were all dressed as traveling merchants, just like people coming to buy and sell grain.

When they reached him, Second Locust got a clear look at the arrivals' faces and at once put on an expression of astonishment.

Yu Baodao Banner shot him a look, signaling him not to panic. Only then did Second Locust put away his astonished look and usher the group into the rear courtyard.

Xiao Wazi clearly hadn't expected it either. Once those men had entered the rear courtyard and shut the door, Second Locust and Xiao Wazi hastily knelt. "Greetings, Master Liu."

Liu Wenxiu took off his straw hat and waved a hand casually at the two of them. "When you're out handling beheading errands, don't perform these grand formalities."

Having said this, he swept his gaze across the courtyard. Yu Baodao Banner whispered beside his ear, "Inform the Old Camp Chief: there is a window at the back of this room that can be broken through."

Liu Wenxiu nodded. "More people are coming tomorrow. This place can't house that many. You must settle them properly — don't let anything go wrong."

Yu Baodao Banner leaned in again and reported in a low voice. At that moment, Wang Dashan and Xu Zhu also reached the rear section. The two of them hurried to the kitchen to prepare porcelain bowls and fetch water for everyone.

Passing by one of the men, Wang Dashan felt a sense of familiarity. He turned his head for a look, and suddenly his scalp went numb.

Old Li's face emerged from beneath a straw hat. Wang Dashan's whole body stiffened. Numbly, he followed Xu Zhu into the kitchen and woodenly took the porcelain bowl Xu Zhu handed him.

As cold water touched his hand, Wang Dashan's mind recovered a trace of nimbleness. Master Liu was traveling from Huguang toward Jiangbei, and bringing this old man from Macheng along would make the journey much more convenient.

He glanced outside. Old Li was also turning his head to look at him. Wang Dashan met Old Li's cold, gloomy gaze just then. The old man's mouth twisted into a grin as he looked toward Xu Zhu's back inside the kitchen.

Wang Dashan turned his head instinctively and saw Xu Zhu bustling about the kitchen on his own, the sound of the wooden ladle knocking against the water vat coming through now and then. Wang Dashan stood before the water vat and buried his head down, yet he could feel the old man's gaze lingering on him.

Xu Zhu had just carried several bowls of water out. The water's surface in the vat shook violently. Wang Dashan panted for breath, watching his own reflection in the vat being kneaded into shattered ripples, piece by piece.