Chapter 202: Pi Island

A merchant ship was approaching the shore amid gentle waves. At the bow stood several men dressed as merchants; one of them wore a felt hat, and beneath its brim a pair of eyes coldly surveyed the island's rolling mountain ranges.

This was a harbor, and a fairly large one at that. Around the merchant ship were vessels of every description — ordinary bird ships and Haicang ships, some oddly shaped single-masted sailboats, and most numerous of all, fishing boats sailing in and out of the harbor to fish. Despite the numbers, most of the hulls and sails looked rough and worn, and the boatmen aboard were in tattered clothes, sallow and emaciated. On the docks, many men dressed as retainers patrolled with weapons, though their eyes were mainly watching the shore.

"Accountant, this is Pi Island."

Pi Island was called Jia Island in Korea, less than ten li from the Korean coast, directly opposite the Korean port of Xuanchuan. Ever since Mao Wenlong established his garrison here, it had been the core of Dongjiang Town. Places like Xuanchuan and Tieshan in Korea had large Han populations, accounting for seventy percent of the local inhabitants — one of the reasons Dongjiang Town chose to establish its base here. Mao Wenlong set up military farms near Xuanchuan and Tieshan and directed the entire Dongjiang Town from there.

The man in the felt hat gave a blank "Mm." His face was deathly pale, but his expression remained as cold as ever. He was Zhang Dong, Reconnaissance Squad Leader of the Wendeng Camp Intelligence Bureau. After entering Wendeng Camp the previous year, he had completed basic training in the recruit camp. Chen Xin's goal was only to cultivate his sense of obedience and discipline, so after the first month of training he was transferred to the Intelligence Bureau. When dealing with that clerk in Wendeng County, he performed exceptionally well and officially became Reconnaissance Squad Leader. The Reconnaissance Squad was mainly responsible for rooting out internal spies, and soon he tracked down the remaining several spies, earning great trust from Zhou Shifa. He was now effectively Zhou Shifa's deputy. His codename within the Intelligence Bureau was Accountant; Zhou Shifa's codename was Shopkeeper; and they referred to the Intelligence Bureau itself as the Shop.

This time, Zhou Shifa had gone personally to Guanning to set up an intelligence station, so he arranged for Zhang Dong to accompany a merchant ship to Pi Island to assess the situation there. If conditions were suitable, they would develop an intelligence network in Dongjiang Town. Traveling with him were two peripheral intelligence agents — both former Dongjiang soldiers who had fled Pi Island. They still had some relatives and friends on the island and could gather some information.

Zhang Dong rarely traveled by ship. The first few days he vomited uncontrollably aboard; the following days were slightly better, and he finally endured until Pi Island, hence his poor complexion. Now, staring at the retainers on shore, he asked the two intelligence agents, "Are they guarding against people stealing boats?"

"Yes. Over the years, people keep running away. There are probably still about two hundred boats on the island, and many think about stealing one. There aren't many places on the island with boats; this is the largest harbor. It's mainly to prevent people from stealing boats and escaping. Also, the catch from fishing out at sea here is the largest. Originally, it was guarded by the retainers of Marshal Mao or Vice General Chen. Now Huang Long doesn't have Marshal Mao's prestige, so each officer has taken a section for himself."

"

"After we land, don't leave the harbor area yet. It's too conspicuous here. Once we reach the place, wait for the Trading Company people to finish negotiating the trade goods with them first. By custom, they'll also arrange a banquet reception. After you've had some wine, then go contact your acquaintances."

The two intelligence agents acknowledged. Both were somewhat nervous; they had been sent out after only brief training, and they were deserters from Pi Island. If caught by their former superior officers, they could very well be beheaded.

Seeing their expressions, Zhang Dong said coldly, "As long as the makeup on your faces doesn't come off, people won't recognize you unless they look closely. Be cautious in your own actions, and try to gather information only from steady, reliable people. If — if you get caught, you must not reveal that you were sent by Wendeng Camp. And you can't start talking the moment you're tortured. You must hold out for some time, to give others time to withdraw. Only then can you say you were hired by Dengzhou merchants, planning to come directly to the island soldiers to buy cheap ginseng — that it was all your own private goods, unrelated to the Wendeng Camp Trading Company. That's easier for people to believe. If you do this job well, you'll be formally inducted into the Shop. Our Shop's monthly pay is even higher than that of combat soldiers, and the bonuses are beyond what combat soldiers can compare to. There are none of those broken rules of military law either. Good days are ahead. If you don't succeed, there will still be another chance next time. But if you dare commit betrayal or turn traitor…" Zhang Dong gave a cold, sinister laugh. "Not a single one of your families back in Wendeng will live."

"Yes, yes, Accountant." Both men were somewhat afraid of this Reconnaissance Squad Leader.

Just then, the ship gave a slight shudder. Several bamboo poles and wooden staves reached over to steady the vessel. A sailor tossed over a mooring line; once it was secured, everyone crossed the gangplank onto the dock. When Zhang Dong stepped ashore, he stumbled. The steady land actually made him unsteady, and his head swam with dizziness.

The deputy beside him hurried to support him, but Zhang Dong waved him off, pressed a hand to his head, and insisted on walking by himself. The head of the Trading Company group walked in front. This minor leader had previously worked in the workshops and was now responsible for trade with Dongjiang. He spoke with several retainers at the dock; one retainer hurried off to a building, and soon an officer came out. The moment the officer saw the Four Seas Trading Company man, his face broke into a broad smile — they were clearly old acquaintances.

The Trading Company man addressed him as "Lord Shang." The two conversed intimately in low voices and walked shoulder to shoulder back toward a building. An accountant from the ship also followed them in. Zhang Dong knew they were going to negotiate prices and inspect goods. The role he was playing — an ordinary attendant — could not enter, so he obediently waited outside the door.

By now he had changed his expression entirely, his face full of smiling good humor as he chatted with the retainers. Zhou Shifa felt that his eyes carried too much killing intent and had specifically made him practice a smiling expression, so as not to draw too much attention.

Zhang Dong took out some cigarettes produced by Wendeng Camp and gave each retainer a pack. The retainers accepted with some curiosity and lit up. Pi Island had no local tobacco; the price of imported tobacco was very high, and ordinary retainers could not afford it. The tobacco leaves used by Wendeng Camp were all specially selected and tasted much better than ordinary shredded tobacco. The retainers praised it endlessly and were soon on brotherly terms with Zhang Dong.

Zhang Dong exchanged pleasantries with them, subtly probing for news about the island. It turned out these retainers were under Shang Keyi. Shang Keyi was Shang Kexi's elder brother. Shang Kexi was still on Guanglu Island and also frequently traded with Wendeng Camp. Both brothers had previously been adopted sons of Mao Wenlong and changed back to their original surname after Mao Wenlong's death.

The Intelligence Bureau had previously gathered some intelligence on Pi Island from the Trading Company and deserters. Currently, there were three main factions on the island. The first was Liu Xingzhi; his core strength was the group of Jurchens he had originally brought with him, and during last year's rebellion he had recruited some trusted followers. The second faction was led by Shen Shikui, whose daughter was Mao Wenlong's concubine; he was now Vice Regional Commander of Dongjiang Town, representing the old Dongjiang establishment from Mao Wenlong's era, and currently the strongest force on the island. The third faction was Huang Long, the Regional Commander of Dongjiang Town, who held the imperial court's mandate and controlled the finances, winning over some Dongjiang officers. However, he was too greedy and unpopular, and he did not know how to play the other two factions against each other; instead, he had deep conflicts with both.

The Shang Kexi brothers harbored a blood-deep hatred for the Later Jin and were on good terms with Chen Jisheng and others, so they naturally placed Liu Xingzhi in a hostile position. They also did not think much of Shen Shikui, a man who rose through his daughter, and after Huang Long arrived on Pi Island, the two brothers sided with Huang Long and became his trusted confidants.

After the retainers grew familiar with Zhang Dong and his group, they in turn kept asking them about conditions in Wendeng. Quite a few people had fled Pi Island to Weihai, and news had come back that it was the best place for Liaodong refugees. These retainers had some status on the island, but since the entire island was extremely impoverished, they were not much better off, and they were all thinking of keeping a fallback option.

Zhang Dong narrowed his eyes in a smile and said to them in a Liaodong accent, "Brothers, I'm also a refugee from Liaodong, from Guangning. After entering the Pass, I was mistreated everywhere. Finally, last year I made it to Wendeng. That Lord Chen treats Liaodong folk the best. And it's not just Liaodong folk — there are people from all the northern provinces, and Lord Chen treats everyone the same. And besides…" Zhang Dong paused; the retainers all leaned in. "Lord Chen is from Liaodong himself — how could he treat us poorly?"

The retainers exchanged glances. A tall one asked in a low voice, "Elder Brother, if we went to Wendeng, could we earn silver? Is there enough to eat there?"

Zhang Dong put on a puzzled look. "How could there be no silver? Soldiers are never owed pay. If you don't want to be a soldier, you can work in the workshops or farm. Brother, it's been a long time since anyone in Wendeng asked whether there's enough to eat. No one lacks food there."

The tall retainer's face was full of longing. The retainers began whispering among themselves off to the side. Zhang Dong observed from the sidelines — even retainers were considering their escape routes. It was clear that Pi Island had long since become a heap of loose sand.

While the retainers conferred, Zhang Dong continued observing the surrounding area, comparing it with the map in his mind. From here he could see Shenmi Island to the east, an island even larger than Pi Island, its mountains similarly covered with ranges. But according to the intelligence he had, Dongjiang Town had not stationed a large force there — only some scattered military farms. He guessed the land there was not very suitable for cultivation either.

Other retainers at the harbor also came out and pointed at their ship, and there were some who looked like officers. A clerk from the Trading Company said proudly to Zhang Dong, "Mr. Zhang, our Wendeng Camp is very popular on Pi Island. Our Four Seas Trading Company doesn't cheat them on prices when buying goods, doesn't delay or default on silver payments, and doesn't use debased silver. No matter which faction those island officers belong to, they all want to trade with us. They'd rather take a slightly lower price and sell to us than to others."

Zhang Dong nodded and smiled, then asked him, "Do they only want silver? The island is so short of grain — why not trade for more food instead?"

The clerk did not know Zhang Dong's true identity and assumed he was from the Civil Affairs Department, so he spoke quite freely. "These island officers are all thinking of keeping some benefits for themselves. Of course they also buy food, but silver is easier to store. Every time we come to the Dongjiang islands, officers from every faction come to contact us. Just watch — this afternoon, people will come looking for us."

The clerk wore a smug expression. Just then, the door of the building opened, and the two Trading Company men came out, chatting and laughing with Shang Keyi. It seemed the business had been concluded.

Shang Keyi was heard saying loudly, "Sirs, your ship can just stay anchored here. My retainers will guard it day and night; I guarantee nothing will go amiss. This evening I'll invite Lord Fan and Lord Zhang over, and we'll sell their goods to you as well."

"

The Trading Company leader agreed readily. Zhang Dong and the others picked up their luggage and followed them inland. They all carried backpacks, which were very convenient, drawing another round of envious looks from the retainers.

All along the way were shacks. Many people were gaunt to the bone, clad in rags, worse off even than the military households in Weihai. Yet the residences of the various officers were no less grand than those of officers in the interior. The lunch they were served was also quite sumptuous, though mostly seafood. Zhang Dong could not stomach that kind of sea flavor and ate only some wheat cakes.

The Trading Company had a residence here, and they stayed there. In the afternoon, as expected, other officers came to contact them and sell their sable pelts and ginseng.

Zhang Dong went out in the afternoon to provide cover for the two intelligence agents to leave. The Trading Company clerk, who knew his way around well, led Zhang Dong and a few others out. Thinking that Zhang Dong and the others were going out to seek pleasure, he said to Zhang Dong as they walked, "Mr. Zhang, there are plenty of unlicensed brothels here on Pi Island, and the prices are lower than you can imagine."

Zhang Dong asked casually, "How low?"

The clerk smugly pulled a sea fish from his bag. "This low." (To be continued. If you enjoy this work, feel free to visit (.) to cast recommendation votes and monthly votes. Your support is my greatest motivation.) 【This text was provided by @Chen Shi Xi Zi】

Recommended new book: After his snail-and-online-game work, the author brings a new fantasy novel "Nine Stars Heavenly Chen Formula" — stay tuned…

This is a world where humans, demon beasts, and mystic beasts coexist. Humans cultivate mystic qi; demon beasts cultivate their physical bodies; mystic beasts cultivate soul thoughts. Legend has it that in the endless jungles and wild marshes, there exist some extraordinarily powerful beings — they are called Demon Kings.

Some Demon Kings possess bodies of incomparable strength; some excel at beguilement; some are masters of illusion; some can move mountains and fill seas; some have soul thoughts that can track for a thousand li. Yet these Demon Kings rarely appear in the human world. Even if they do appear, they take human form and mingle among humans, seeking breakthroughs in their realms…

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