Chapter 186: Fuzhou

Someone surnamed Xia once said: eliminate all impossible conclusions, and whatever remains, no matter how improbable, must be the truth.

Well, this person wasn't called Xia Xianze, but Xia Luote Fuermosi.

The 17th-century great merchant Xu Xinsu understood this principle too.

How could the people on Dayuan Island have known months in advance that Xiong Wencan would be appointed Fuzhou Governor? You have to realize, at that time, the memorial reporting Fujian Regional Commander Yu Zigao's defeat by Zheng Zhilong might not even have reached Beijing yet.

After eliminating all impossibilities, Xu Xinsu ultimately arrived at one conclusion: some powerful figure at court capable of swaying state affairs was plotting something, and had therefore moved ahead of time to place a piece in this southeastern corner.

... Xu Xinsu's official post within the system was the Naval Defense Commander rank he had purchased with silver — a position smaller than a shrimp. Now, discovering that his family actually had a chance to cling to the thick leg of some big shot at court, to Commander Xu, who was currently being hunted across the entire map by Zheng Zhilong, this was nothing short of a heavenly decree.

Having grasped this point, the great comprador Xu let out a cry: Heaven has not forsaken me!

Thereupon, Xu Xinsu immediately took two actions.

First, he dispatched his trusted confidant Xu Duanwu, aboard a nimble 200-liao Fu ship, to set sail from Quanzhou straight for Dayuan. To evade pirates and increase speed, the ship's hold carried only some raw silk and no other cargo.

Upon arriving at Dayuan, Xu Duanwu made it explicitly clear that this raw silk was part of the goods his master had previously owed the Dutch, and that from now on, all such owed goods would be delivered to the Transmigrators as opportunities arose.

After that, Xu Duanwu did not leave; he would wait on Dayuan Island for further instructions from the Transmigrators: the letter of gratitude and allegiance personally written by Xu Xinsu had already been delivered into Cai Feiming's hands before this.

As for Xu Xinsu himself, on the second day after Xu Duanwu's departure, he organized his manpower, took large quantities of gold, silver, and valuables, and, following the Transmigrators' earlier instructions, went north to Fuzhou to lie low.

Cai Feiming summoned Xu Duanwu today precisely to notify him to prepare: the envoy ship would depart tomorrow, and there would be a berth on board for Xu Duanwu. As for what Xu Duanwu should do upon returning to Fuzhou, someone would naturally tell him during the voyage.

After briefly explaining the situation to Xu Duanwu, Cai Feiming brought him to the door of an office in the southeast corner of the Shang Hall, knocked, handed Xu Duanwu over, and then it was no longer Cai Feiming's concern.

The person receiving Xu Duanwu was surnamed Tang, a genial middle-aged man. This middle-aged man called himself Tang Qi, but his real name was Tang Mude — he merely used an alias in front of the Ming people. Tang Qi was the Chief of the Intelligence Bureau's Action Division, and also one of the Envoy Group Three Swordsmen on this mission, specifically responsible for information communications and intelligence transmission.

After a few brief words with Xu Duanwu, he sent him off to prepare — as for the various mission briefings and such, there would be plenty of time to go over them in detail once aboard the ship; for now, everyone should focus on packing their luggage.

Early the next morning, the envoy group boarded the modified Fu ship "Rui'an" and set out directly north from Dayuan, heading straight for Fuzhou.

Besides Zhang Dongdong, that counterfeit Cao Chuan, the envoy group included two other Transmigrators. Tang Qi from the intelligence department was one; the other was named Sha Zhengming.

Sha Zhengming was a big fellow with a crew cut. Broad-waisted and round-bellied, with a fierce-looking face, he had previously been a sailing coach. Since he had crossed over relatively late, this gentleman, as a naval representative, had been pushed forward to serve as a pirate leader.

Sha Zhengming's ostensible role was the great general commanding Cao Chuan's elite pirates. To explain the soldiers' shaved heads to Xiong Wencan, a monk-turned-bandit backstory had been devised for Sha Zhengming — the leader was a monk, so it was perfectly reasonable for him to have monk soldiers under his command.

After departing from Dayuan, the Rui'an first sailed north along the Taiwan coastline, only turning to cross the strait after sighting Fugui Cape at Taipei.

Due to unfavorable wind direction, the Rui'an took a full four days this time to cross the strait and reach the area of what later generations would call Lianjiang County.

Solitary Lianjiang County, out at sea, is part of the Mazu Islands. After sighting it, the Rui'an began to trim its sails and head southwest. By noon the next day, looking far ahead from the bow, the large islands at the Min River Estuary were already visible.

Entering from the Min River Estuary, passing the large and small islets along the way, and rounding Mawei Islet, the Fuzhou Plain came into view.

The Fuzhou Plain, five thousand years ago, was still a bay. Two thousand five hundred years ago, as the sea level gradually receded, the silt layer of the Fuzhou Basin was finally exposed. Including the later famous Yu Mountain, Wu Mountain, and Ping Mountain, all these places had been islands before the Shang and Zhou dynasties, which is why Fuzhou has so many place names using the character for "islet."

As the Fuzhou Plain expanded naturally over the centuries, Fuzhou City, situated upon it, kept pace with the times, continuously expanded by the people of Min who lacked flat land. Starting from the tiny Ye City of the Han Dynasty, through multiple expansions, by the moment the Transmigrators arrived beneath its walls, the outer wall of Fuzhou City had already enveloped areas like Nine Immortals Mountain.

After rounding Mawei Islet, bristling with cannons and fortifications, and sailing upstream along the North Min River split by Cangshan Island, at 5 p. m., the Rui'an finally reached the Min River Dock outside Fuzhou City.

As the capital of the Eight Min, Fuzhou City was naturally bustling beyond compare. Outside Nanmen, a row of docks built from thick timbers stretched out in a line along the Min River. The river's surface was a forest of masts and sails, with boats shuttling back and forth; on the docks, people moved like ants and laborers clustered like clouds. Outside Nanmen, along the riverbank, there were quite a few streets and alleys; though mostly shanties and stilt houses, they still formed a lively market, with commerce flourishing.

The Rui'an ultimately dropped anchor at the "Hong" Dock.

The "Hong" Dock was a civilian dock. By rights, given the Rui'an's status, it could have docked directly at the Official Dock, but since this envoy mission was a secret one, and Fuzhou City was full of eyes and ears from the various great pirate gangs, it was better to play it safe and stop at an inconspicuous civilian dock.

At this moment, already waiting for Zhang Dongdong and his party at the Hong Dock was the Fuzhou Station Chief of the Intelligence Bureau: Song Jia.

The layout of Fuzhou Station and Hangzhou Station was largely similar.

Both had a semi-publicly identified Dayuan merchant to draw fire, while the Station Chief, Song Jia, using the identity of a Hangzhou sundries merchant, remained hidden in the shadows, controlling the overall situation.

After the Rui'an dropped anchor, it wasn't long before Song Jia, dressed in a plain, light-colored long robe, came aboard via the gangplank.

The stern cabin was bustling at that moment: all electronic instruments, including the radar equipment, had to be dismantled, packed, placed into specialized moisture-proof cases, and then hidden away in the lower hold.

The Rui'an would be moored outside Fuzhou's Nanmen for quite a few days. With people coming and going on the dock, all sorts of shady characters would frequently enter and leave the stern cabin, which served as an office, so the equipment had to be hidden away... anyway, Fuzhou Station had a radio, so they weren't lacking this one set on the ship.

There was no time for pleasantries when the few of them met; everyone pitched in together, packing the instruments according to the practiced procedures, then personally carried them into the hidden compartments below deck. Only then was the task complete.

By the time all this was done, the sky had darkened to dusk — the perfect time to enter the city.

Before boarding the ship, Song Jia had already spent silver to send off the dock tax clerks and all manner of shady characters. Now, moored outside the Hong Dock, there were only a few sedan chairs that Song Jia had hired in advance.

So the tall and sturdy members of the envoy group, each wearing an eye-shading veil, stooped and hunched over, swiftly disembarked and slipped into the sedan chairs. Before the city gates closed, these four sedan chairs, escorted by a dozen or so guards, entered Fuzhou City.

Not long after the envoy group left, as the light grew dimmer, a nondescript, dark, lean man also disembarked from the Rui'an. Once off the ship, this man hurried straight toward Nanmen; the crew on board acted as if they hadn't seen him.

Fuzhou City was divided north and south; the south was under the jurisdiction of Houguan County, the north was Min County.

Traveling north along the Stone Slab Street lined with rows of ancient buildings, the envoy procession started from the central line of Nanmen, passed all the way through the Prefectural School, the Houguan County Office, crossed Antai Bridge, passed Huanzhu Gate, and then reached that one building indispensable to the center of any ancient Chinese city: the Drum Tower.

After passing the Drum Tower, crossing Mao Ying Bridge, they entered the northern city district where the Governor-General Offices clustered.

The procession did not go further, but turned directly right. Ultimately, the envoy group settled into a quiet residence near Zhongyi Temple, in the upper right corner of Fuzhou City.

This residence was the very first property secretly purchased as soon as Fuzhou Station was established. The house was not large, with three courtyards and a garden, located between Zhongyi Temple and Lion Bridge — convenient for transport, a single, self-contained household.

"You've all worked hard, coming all this way without even a welcome banquet — ah, I'm truly sorry." After a simple wash-up upon entering the house, Song Jia, the local host, finally had a chance to exchange a few pleasantries with everyone.

"Alright, old man, no need to stand on ceremony; let's get straight to the situation briefing." Beside him, Song Jia's colleague, Division Chief Tang Qi, who was wiping his face with a damp cloth, turned his head and said.

"Mm... then I'll briefly report on the situation to everyone." Song Jia pondered for a moment, then said, "The overall situation at present is good. The word from 'Emei Peak' is that Xiong Wencan is still quite looking forward to meeting 'Brother Cao' here."

After a slight smile at the counterfeit Cao Chuan, Song Jia continued, "However, Old Zheng's side has also made moves. A few days ago, Old Zheng launched another surprise attack on Zhongzuosuo, which has put pressure on Xiong Wencan. Additionally, recently there have also been people petitioning and lobbying Xiong Wencan — all of this is to bolster Zheng Zhilong's position."

"Then do we still proceed according to the original plan? Are there any parts that need changing?" Hearing Song Jia say this, Zhang Dongdong couldn't help but speak up and ask.

Song Jia shook his head and said decisively, "No, everything remains unchanged. Right now, the most critical thing is your meeting with Old Xiong. All other people, all other work, must serve to ensure that meeting goes smoothly. Only after that will we discuss the next step of the plan based on the meeting's outcome."

"Don't worry, I have contingency plans here. Tomorrow Old Tang and I will refine the plan together." Song Jia chuckled at this point, "As for you two, just focus on preparing for Old Xiong's interview; don't worry about anything else."

"Alright, then that's how it'll have to be for now." Hearing this, Zhang Dongdong nodded.

Because Fuzhou Station had been established too recently, it had not yet cultivated enough trustworthy household staff, so there were no outsiders in this envoy group's courtyard — only the three Transmigrators and a dozen or so Intelligence Bureau subordinates brought from Dayuan.

Among these, three were Fuzhou Station personnel whom Song Jia had kept back that night; they were familiar with local conditions. As for Song Jia himself, after a few hasty words, he returned to his own residence — it was already the start of the hai hour, and if he didn't leave now, running into the night patrol would mean trouble.

So that night, Zhang Dongdong and his group had to fend for themselves. After washing up, they tidied the bedding, arranged the night watch, and then everyone retired early.