Chapter 400: Lair

Li Yongfang left through Chen Yijing's side door. Chen Yijing did not come to see him off; a servant who knew none of the details came to close the door. Li Yongfang put on a gualao cap, pulling the brim low to cover the hair at his temples.

He wore a common Daoist-style outer robe. Once on the main street, he hunched his body, lowered his head slightly, and raised a fortune-teller's sign, looking every bit a wandering Daoist priest. A person like this coming and going from people's homes would not easily arouse suspicion from outsiders.

This area was now a high-end residential zone outside Dengzhou city. Many Dengzhou Garrison officials lived here. People of Xu Yuanhua and Wu Youdao's rank were on a street to the north, where most of Dengzhou's civil administration officials also resided.

Li Yongfang blended into the crowd and glanced at that northern street. Civil Administration security guards stood watch at the entrance; street vendors and wandering Daoist priests could not enter. According to Chen Yijing, most of these residences had belonged to families wiped out by Kong Youde during the Dengzhou Rebellion. After the Dengzhou Garrison arrived, they occupied them, paying only a pittance in taxes to the Penglai county government office, and then they became Dengzhou Garrison assets.

Based on Li Yongfang's half-year of probing here, Chen Xin did not interfere much in his subordinates' private lives and treated them fairly well in material terms, but that was limited to silver, houses, and the like. No one was ever allowed to use soldiers as personal servants. The Dengzhou Garrison permitted officials to hire servants but absolutely forbade keeping household slaves. Even Chen Yijing's residence currently employed only two servants and two maids.

At the street entrance, Li Yongfang spotted his contacts: one disguised as a carrying-pole peddler, the other as a tea drinker. Li Yongfang passed in front of them, and once he was certain they had seen him, he headed for the main road into the city.

The pole peddler rose first and followed behind Li Yongfang. The tea drinker observed for a moment longer and, seeing no suspicious persons, fell in behind. The three walked in sequence. They entered the city through the Chunsheng Gate and turned south before the Mifen Bridge. The lanes here were dense, having suffered relatively little damage during the Dengzhou Rebellion, and the civilian houses were quite intact.

Li Yongfang seemed thoroughly familiar with the terrain. He ducked directly into a small alley. This alley was seldom used on ordinary days. The pole peddler stopped right at the alley entrance, just enough to block the path. After Li Yongfang changed clothes at the turn, he coughed once to alert the peddler, then exited from the other end of the alley.

By now he had changed his appearance. He wore a square cap and a blue scholar's robe, looking every bit a member of the gentry. Such people were common in the city — if not merchants, then licentiates — and did not attract attention.

He twisted and turned through the southern part of the city, arriving near Chaotianmen Avenue by the south gate. From the rear lanes, he came to the back door of a two-courtyard residence.

The front of the property was a charcoal shop right on Chaotianmen Avenue; behind it was this two-courtyard compound. Li Yongfang knocked on the door in a rhythmic pattern. There was no delay inside — the door opened almost at once. It creaked open, revealing a fierce-looking face. It was Li Yongfang's longtime household retainer. Li Yongfang stepped into the courtyard and let out a long breath of relief.

Every outing carried risk, because his hair had not yet grown back. And he could not keep pretending to be a monk forever. In another month, when the weather turned colder, wearing a hat would be more common, and perhaps it would be safer.

He did not go to the shop front but went directly into the main hall of the inner courtyard. The head retainer followed him in, poured him tea, and said in a low voice, "Master, you were gone two whole days. Your slave was frantic with worry."

Li Yongfang, heedless that the tea was still scalding, took an impatient sip, then looked up and said, "Li Ken, what is the matter with you? I've told you, do not call me Master, and do not call yourself a slave. Remember this from now on. Do not throw your life away over such small things."

The head retainer acknowledged this. Just then, a man dressed as a merchant came over from the shop and also said to the retainer Li Ken, "Proprietor Li's reminder is a good one. This Dengzhou Garrison is not like other places. Their Intelligence Bureau is stronger than the Eastern Depot and the Embroidered Uniform Guard. They even have people in the capital. Last year, two locations in the capital were wiped out. It was because those people still used the old methods — spreading rumors in various teahouses and wineshops. On their way back, they were tailed. Both locations were raided the next day. Of more than ten men, only two escaped. They said most of the attackers spoke with Shandong accents. It might well have been this Dengzhou Garrison Intelligence Bureau. Now that we are in their very lair, we must be even more careful at all times."

Li Yongfang reclined in his chair, narrowed his eyes, and said, "Old Jiang understands how things work. Li Ken, you've only just arrived here; you must listen more to Old Jiang."

The man Li Yongfang called Old Jiang had originally been stationed in the capital. When Li Yongfang first arrived, he had sent him ahead to establish a foothold, and he had single-handedly created this safe house. This man had been operating in the capital since the Tianqi reign, changing his name countless times. His current alias was Jiang, so Li Yongfang simply called him Old Jiang.

Li Yongfang then recounted the intelligence he had gathered on his side, and afterward said to the two men, "Both of you, speak your minds. Let's see if there is anything we can act on."

Old Jiang bowed and said, "This humble one will speak first. I have placed two men inside the Dengzhou Garrison. One is Old Yuan, whom I brought from the capital. He found work sweeping the streets for the Civil Affairs Department. I have him collect the discarded papers and trash the Dengzhou Garrison throws out every day. When he brings them back and we piece them together, we can glean quite a bit. I also sent two others to enlist in the garrison farms. Both are in Changyi. They sent word back yesterday, writing about the garrison troops' drills. As Proprietor Li just said, the Dengzhou Garrison is sending more troops to Lushun — roughly a company commander's force. Add the one regiment from the Right Wing transferred a few days ago, that makes two company commanders, over two thousand men. This must be reported to the Great Khan as soon as possible, so he does not misjudge Dengzhou's military strength."

Li Yongfang thought about delivering this message and felt a great headache coming on. The Wendeng and Dengzhou naval patrols were now extremely strict. Private trade still existed, but the threshold had been raised considerably. Anyone without powerful backing, once caught, would lose both ship and cargo, and the person would be hauled before the Provincial Governor's government office for interrogation. And among those with such backing, none were willing to carry messages. Li Yongfang also dared not reveal his identity.

Last time, they had relied on Old Jiang to buy three small boats and sent their own men to cross secretly at night. Only one of the three made it, but they had managed to get the intelligence about Chen Xin going to suppress bandits delivered in time.

Old Jiang saw Li Yongfang's expression and knew he was worried about this. He said quietly to Li Yongfang, "Proprietor, this humble one thinks we can find another route for messages. Merchants from Ningyuan frequently travel to Dengzhou, mainly to buy cigarettes and southern goods. If you could help me secure a source of cigarette stock, the route to Ningyuan would open up. This time, however, we don't need that. Since the Great Khan is at Lushun, we can buy some fishing boats and send two or three men to deliver the message, landing directly on the western shore of Lushun."

Li Yongfang cautioned, "With the Ningyuan merchants, haggle over the silver. Don't let them think we don't care about the price, which would raise suspicion. Also, absolutely do not use our established agents in Ningyuan. They've been there too many years. The people of Liaozhen actually all know about them. Don't use them, lest someone follow the trail back to us."

Old Jiang agreed, "Your subordinate will remember. The men we send will go directly through Kalaqin. Once they enter Duoyan, there are tribes we are familiar with. Obtaining horses, it's only three or four days to Shenyang."

Li Ken asked coldly, "Wendeng cigarettes sell extremely well. Even small local cigarette peddlers in Dengzhou often can't get stock. Where can you get enough goods for Ningyuan?"

"That still falls on Chen Yijing. He is with the Industry and Commerce Department. The Wendeng Cigarette Factory is under their jurisdiction."

Li Yongfang nodded. "That matter can only be raised next time. For now, do not push Chen Yijing too hard. Letting him sink deeper step by step is the right path. When the time comes, we will not only want his supply channels but also have him find a way to get the Wendeng Cigarette formula. I hear that this year Dengzhou is also purchasing Korean tobacco through Pidao, and Jinghai even has cargo ships sailing directly to Korea. Tobacco is among the bulk goods. If our Great Jin could obtain this formula, we could surely seize the trade route from the Mongols, far more conveniently than here in Dengzhou. Trading cigarettes for horses — why not?"

Li Ken said admiringly, "The Proprietor thinks far ahead. This humble one only knows how to kill. You just mentioned there is grain at Weihai. Should I make a trip there and burn that grain?"

Li Yongfang and Old Jiang shook their heads simultaneously. Old Jiang said, "Absolutely do not go to Wendeng. Wendeng is now almost entirely military garrison farms. The baojia system is strict. Every intersection has repeated checks. Apart from the sea routes to Weihai and Jinghai, it is extremely difficult to move about anywhere else. Weihai's defenses are especially tight. Most of the old garrison households have relocated to Wendeng and Dengzhou. It has now been converted into a military port. A person with an out-of-town accent walking in there — forget burning a warehouse, you wouldn't even get into the port."

Li Ken stared blankly. "Then what should this humble one do? Since Dengzhou is so heavily guarded, I could go to other parts of Denglai to cause damage."

Li Yongfang straightened up. "Here in Denglai, the most lax place is actually this very Regional Commander's headquarters, Dengzhou. Even Laizhou doesn't compare. Because trade here is frequent, the people coming and going are naturally mixed, and there are many imperial government offices here. The Dengzhou Garrison cannot cover the entire sky with one hand. In the countryside of Pingdu, someone like you — the moment you show up, someone might come to interrogate you. One slip in handling it, and you'll get yourself caught."

"This humble one would never betray the Proprietor!"

Li Yongfang waved his hand. "I know, I know. But there's a saying that holds true: caution lets you sail a ship for ten thousand years. For those in our line of work, that goes double. Think of Wu Changchun's fate. You should know that being careful is never a grave mistake. We must keep a low profile in Dengzhou. Those dirty tricks used in the capital and Guanning — don't use any of them here. They're useless and easily expose us. Our first priority is to report Dengzhou's situation to the Great Khan for his consideration. Only then comes sabotage. That must only be done when we are absolutely certain of success. Li Ken, for now, you will stay in Dengzhou and handle communications. In particular, around this location, you must arrange escape routes and places to cover this site."

Old Jiang said quietly, "Proprietor, this matter has already been arranged. To the southeast of here, we have purchased another courtyard, also a two-courtyard one. There is a street in between. This humble one roughly paced it out — about twenty paces apart. I will dig a tunnel from the main hall here to that place and prepare a change of clothes over there. If something happens here, we can withdraw from the main hall. Also, diagonally opposite the shop, thirty paces to the north, we have rented a small gallery room to monitor the street for any unusual persons. We've set up a calligraphy and painting stall there."

"The arrangements are quite proper, but I am still somewhat worried. This location is cramped. The surrounding lanes have only two exits. Once they're blocked, there's no way out. We must find another location. Best to buy it outright, to avoid those troubles…"

"Proprietor." Old Jiang gently interrupted him. "Property prices nearby have risen sharply. A street-facing courtyard with a three-bay shop front is already over three hundred taels."

"So expensive?" Li Yongfang was startled. Even an ordinary shop in the capital was not this costly.

Old Jiang nodded slightly. Li Yongfang murmured, "Then when you go back this time, you must ask the Great Khan for more silver."

At that moment, a knock came at the side door. Li Yongfang sprang to his feet. Only after he recognized the rhythm did he relax and say, "Li Ken, open the door."

The pole peddler who had provided cover earlier quickly entered. He held a military gazette. "My lord, this is the latest military gazette from Dengzhou. The first batch just went on sale. This humble one rushed to grab a copy. According to this, they killed two to three thousand men of the Great Jin at Lushun in a single day and even captured Bakshan of the Bordered White Banner alive."

"Bakshan?" Li Yongfang exclaimed. He hastily took the gazette and began reading. It also contained a brief introduction of Bakshan and Wang Tingshi's assignment for this man: a squad commander in the Main Army Battalion. Clearly, Chen Xin had already coordinated with Wang Tingshi to use this man as a public symbol — just as effective as Li Yongfang was for the Later Jin — while also cutting off Bakshan's path of retreat.

"Have any of you seen Bakshan?" Li Yongfang asked the people around him.

Li Ken pointed at himself. Li Yongfang had naturally seen him too, but Bakshan alone was not really significant. The main issue was that, as a figurehead for the Later Jin, he had often been sent to demand surrenders and the like, so he had appeared in public many times. Many of Liu Xingzuo's former subordinates knew him, and quite a few of those men had defected to Chen Xin. That was the real reason Li Yongfang felt unsafe in Dengzhou.

"Old Jiang." Li Yongfang, having finished reading, said in a deep voice, "Find a new location. Regardless of size, it must meet the conditions I stated. From now on, message transfers will only be arranged here. The newly purchased place must be known only to the few people in this room. When everyone goes out, carry poison on your person. If you die, you die — better than suffering the torments of that Dengzhou Intelligence Bureau."

Old Jiang answered in a low voice. Everyone else in the room waited for Li Yongfang to speak about the news in the military gazette. Li Yongfang read through the gazette in order. The front page was that article by Chen Xin — to someone like Li Yongfang, it stirred no feeling whatsoever. Then came a string of victories: how many heads taken, how much captured, how many killed or wounded — all battle reports unfavorable to the Later Jin army.

Li Yongfang recalled what Chen Yijing had said. He had heard that recently that Liu Minyou was devoting most of his energy to cotton. Li Yongfang truly had no idea what was to be gained from cotton, but the less he understood it, the more uneasy he felt. The Dengzhou Garrison now was like a ceaselessly swelling monster. The shock it gave Li Yongfang was much like the sudden rise of the Later Jin army back then. In a few more years, it was truly hard to say. Although the military gazette might contain some boasting, Lushun was certainly not going to be easy to take.

"Li Ken, take this military gazette to Niuzhuang as well. Go personally. See what the Great Khan requires of us in Dengzhou to assist him, and hurry back."

"Understood." Li Ken gathered the other intelligence along with the military gazette, and Old Jiang led him outside to make arrangements.

"I only hope the Great Khan can take Lushun. I wonder how the fighting went today." Li Yongfang prayed in his heart. (To be continued..)