Chapter 187: Contact

Early the next morning, the first to arrive at the "Bieyuan" was a train of donkey carts hauling goods, escorted by Song Jia and his men.

The residence the envoy mission currently occupied had previously been the Bieyuan of a certain merchant. After Tang Qi purchased it, the property sat idle, never even receiving a Tang Manor sign, and internally everyone continued to refer to it by the codename "Bieyuan."

Under the escort of Song Jia and the crewmen, four donkey carts hauled over the cargo from the Rui'an.

The cargo had been unloaded from the Rui'an onto sampans in the early morning; the sampans then circled halfway around the moat and entered the city through Jinglou Gate at the southeastern corner of Fuzhou.

Before the Wanli era, Jinglou Gate was called Chuanchang Men, and just outside it lay the Minjiang Chuanchang. Not only were there official shipyards clustered there, but large private shipyards also gathered in droves. Timber was piled high, artisans thronged, and every year a great number of Fujian ships were newly built and launched from this place.

The "Bieyuan" was not far from Jinglou Gate. After the sampans entered the city, they unloaded directly at Lion Bridge near Zhongyi Temple, then hired a few donkey carts, and the goods were delivered right to the residence.

Once the four donkey carts were unloaded, they immediately set off without pause to haul a second load — the Rui'an had come to Fuzhou this time carrying a large batch of wealth and gifts, precisely intended for presenting to the high and mighty officials of Fuzhou City.

Dozens of people labored until the evening meal before all the arriving goods were sorted and properly stored away. They had barely settled down for a moment when the guests arrived.

Just as the sky was darkening, two sedan chairs entered the Bieyuan's gate, one after the other.

As the first sedan chair came through the gate, several shadowy figures could be glimpsed trailing around it, and along the route, people had been stationed to monitor and cover the rear — the atmosphere grew inexplicably tense.

The man inside the sedan chair was Xue Haiyuan: the head of Dayuan's semi-public office in Fuzhou City.

The office that Dayuan had stationed in Fuzhou City was currently under pressure from all sides. As a semi-public agent of the sea lords — at least in the eyes of outsiders, Xue Haiyuan and Xiong Dao, far off in Hangzhou, were birds of a feather.

The days of obscurity were over. As word gradually spread that the Crossing Faction had seized Dayuan, the news that yet another force capable of defeating the Dutch had appeared in the Fujian-Guangdong Waters was now known to most who made their living on the sea routes.

There were quite a few offices of sea lords in Fuzhou City. With a newcomer suddenly appearing in their circles, naturally people came to probe — some openly approached to make contact, others investigated from the side.

The Fuzhou Office, which seemed to have some unspoken friction with Lao Zheng, quickly felt the pressure. Especially now, with Zheng Zhilong's power ascendant and his arrogance blazing, there was a sizable faction in Fuzhou City acting as his mouthpiece. Consequently, Xue Haiyuan now had to be extremely cautious when going out; detours and rear-guards were mandatory, otherwise problems with security and surveillance would arise.

After arriving at the Bieyuan, Xue Haiyuan, Zhang Dongdong, and the others held a brief meeting, and then everyone ate while waiting for Comrade "Emei Peak" to come through the door.

Tonight's gathering was the most complete assembly of the Crossing Faction's forces in Fuzhou City before their public debut — and also the last, especially for Xue Haiyuan himself.

In theory, Xue Haiyuan should have been responsible for hosting the envoy mission. However, because both Xiong Wencan and the Crossing Faction did not want the outside world to know of the Dayuan envoy mission's existence before the Summon Pacification succeeded, Xue Haiyuan, a public figure, was unsuitable to appear.

From now on, communication between all parties would be conducted via vehicle-mounted radios; high-risk activities like face-to-face meetings would no longer be held.

Speak of Cao Cao, and Cao Cao arrives.

Before all the dishes were served, Comrade Emei Peak's sedan chair reached the door.

Naturally, Comrade Emei Peak did not come alone.

A squad of Patrol Office Soldiers wearing the uniforms of the Grand Coordinator's Office, and Xiong Qi, one of Lao Xiong's trusted Chang Sui — this was the standard configuration.

Upon hearing the news, Song Jia hurried out the main gate to welcome them. In a short moment, Huang Ping, the Grand Presented Scholar Huang, holding a folding fan and dressed in a straight-hemmed robe of Songjiang Fine Cloth, was ushered into the main hall where everyone was dining.

The accompanying Patrol Office Soldiers were, of course, promptly invited into the side rooms, where they began to beam as they enjoyed a top-quality feast delivered from a nearby restaurant. After the meal, each Vice Lord would also receive five taels of silver for their trouble.

As for Xiong Qi, the trusted confidant who could reveal Xiong Wencan's moods and movements at any time, the Transmigrators naturally would not be stingy with silver at such a critical moment. Thus, the moment Xiong Qi entered, a steward-like figure immediately ushered Master Xiong alone into a private chamber. Amidst the wine and dishes laid out, Xiong Qi also received a twenty-tael gold ingot.

Smiling as he tucked the gold ingot into his sleeve pouch, Xiong Qi — the only person in this squad from the Grand Coordinator's Office besides Huang Ping who knew the Transmigrators' origins — used but a single sentence to repay that gold ingot: "A few days ago, Zheng Yiguan attacked and seized Zhongzuosuo. My master, in private, was furious. Ah, these are hard times."

Xiong Qi's hint was quickly relayed to the Transmigrators' table inside the main house.

Presented Scholar Huang, who was currently the butt of everyone's jokes, listened, then tapped his fan in his hand and nodded: "Xiong Qi's information aligns with my own observations. Lao Xiong has indeed been in a poor mood these last couple of days."

"In that case, tomorrow you must focus on discussing the threat of Zheng Zhilong with Lao Xiong, and then use us as a comparison." Song Jia, hearing this, turned to Zhang Dongdong and said, "No comparison, no harm, right?"

"Understood." Zhang Dongdong, who was buried in eating fish, nodded to show he'd received the message.

"Also, Lao Xiong is rather sensitive to the phrase 'strong soldiers and sturdy horses.' Be mindful of your wording when the time comes," Presented Scholar Huang added.

"Understood." Zhang Dongdong had finally finished his fish. "Lao Xiong was essentially forced by Zheng Zhilong to come to Fujian as the Grand Coordinator for Recruitment and Amnesty. Although historically he held his nose and recruited Lao Zheng, that doesn't mean he was happy about it. At least in the early stage of the recruitment, that was his mindset."

Zhang Dongdong paused, gathered his thoughts, and continued: "Now that Lao Xiong has us as an additional option, he naturally doesn't want to hear phrases like 'strong soldiers and sturdy horses' that carry an implicit threat. That's perfectly logical."

"If that bunch around Zheng Zhilong still puts on the same arrogant airs they did historically in front of Xiong Wencan — heh heh — the Lao Xiong we've been pampering in this current age is a prideful man. Zheng Zhilong can go rest on the sidelines."

"Mm, not bad, not bad. Old Zhang has a very accurate grasp of Xiong Wencan's mentality. 'Prideful' is an excellent choice of word!" Presented Scholar Huang, who had now risen to serve as an advisor right at Grand Pacification Commissioner Xiong's side, clapped in approval.

"Heh heh, speaking of prideful, you, Old Huang, are the true expert! Do you know how many people, after watching your prideful videos, reported severe psychological trauma and content that caused extreme discomfort?"

"Hahaha..." The group erupted in laughter again.

Master Huang, looking slightly flustered, protested: "That's enough, enough now. Brothers, your teasing is endless!"

The evening banquet soon concluded.

Advisor Huang, tasked with "secretly meeting Cao Chuan to discuss the meeting agenda," had by now finished ironing out the details of tomorrow's meeting between Zhang Dongdong and Xiong Wencan with his fellow Transmigrators. Seeing that it was already 8:30 in the evening, Huang Ping decided to return to the Grand Coordinator's Office.

Theoretically, after arriving in Fuzhou, the Transmigrators should have gone to the Grand Coordinator's Office to present their credentials and request an audience. However, given the special circumstances, Xiong Wencan had specifically dispatched Huang Ping — an inconspicuous advisor with detailed knowledge of the Fujian-Guangdong situation — to make contact with the envoy mission after dark.

Of course, this also gave Huang Ping a perfect opportunity to exchange information with his comrades, which was a good thing in itself.

With the meeting with Lao Xiong set for tomorrow evening, Master Huang and the now well-fed and satisfied squad of soldiers formally took their leave. A curfew or night ban meant nothing in the eyes of Master Huang's party. After bidding farewell, they raised the lanterns of the Grand Coordinator's Office and barreled off, crashing straight through.

One difference from their arrival: Master Huang's returning procession now included an extra donkey cart.

Time: one hour after Huang Ping departed the Bieyuan. Location: the Fujian Grand Inspector's Office, Back Residence, study.

The study, which on ordinary days needed red candles lit, was now completely free of lamp-oil fumes, instead blazing with white light. A brass, antique-style solar-powered lantern sat on the desk, casting a bright, even slightly harsh white glow... every person and object in the study was exposed in stark clarity at this moment.

Right Assistant Censor-in-Chief and Fujian Governor Xiong Wencan sat beside the desk, carefully studying a gift list in his hand. The light from the solar lamp now rendered every wrinkle on Lao Xiong's face clearly visible, and even the faint trembling of the old man's beard fell under the gaze of Huang Ping, who sat nearby with a slight smile.

After a long while, Xiong Wencan finally raised his head, placed the gift list on the desk, and sighed softly: "For a man of dim eyes and failing sight, reading this list is utterly effortless. This Pure Yang Lamp is truly a rare treasure. These people have been thoughtful."

Huang Ping smiled faintly: "My lord indeed has keen eyes. According to Cao Chuan, this Pure Yang Glass is exceedingly difficult to obtain. Even in the Far West, not a single piece may be produced in a decade."

Xiong Wencan nodded at this, then stroked his long beard and asked: "Sir, in meeting this Cao Chuan today, what were your impressions?"

Huang Ping knew the critical moment had arrived. He straightened his expression and said: "In my observation, this man Cao Chuan speaks with earnest sincerity and is anxious to secure a foothold under my lord's governance. He does not seem the deceitful sort."

"Mm." Xiong Wencan pondered for a moment, then pressed further: "And how do the Cao and Zheng clans compare?"

Huang Ping chuckled lightly: "The Cao Clan is weak; the Zheng Clan is strong. One is a merchant, the other a mere pirate!"

"In your opinion, sir, which should be recruited and granted amnesty?"

"My lord, better to use those who have erred than those who have achieved; better to use the weak than the strong!"

June 1st, 1628. The third morning since the Dayuan envoy mission arrived in Fuzhou.

Zhang Dongdong was strolling around the Bieyuan.

Late the previous night, four locations — Huang Ping at the Grand Coordinator's Office, the envoy mission at the Bieyuan, Song Jia's Hangzhou Station headquarters, and Xue Haiyuan's office — had communicated via vehicle-mounted radios.

Thus, Zhang Dongdong was now extremely calm at heart: he was full of confidence for tonight's interview with Chief Examiner Xiong.

Zheng Zhilong, this contestant, had the top written exam score historically. So even though the guy was cocky and his interview score was mediocre, historically Examiner Xiong still held his nose and admitted him.

In the Current Age, everything is different. The Transmigrators have already smoothed things over, and Chief Examiner Xiong's house is piled high with Moutai. So what if Zheng Zhilong got first in the written exam? He'll soon get to know what it means that even a hero can't pass the interview hurdle.