Chapter 424: Business Trip

The two scouts swiftly crossed the alley. At the alley mouth they slowed their pace, suppressed their ragged breathing, and stepped unhurriedly onto the street. The beggar's back had just vanished into another alley entrance, moving at a rapid pace. One of the two scouts was a former Dengzhou street tough who knew the nearby roads well; he cut directly through another alley to head him off, while the remaining one loitered on this street to guard against the beggar suddenly doubling back.

The other two scouts who had initially abandoned the target caught up from behind. After appearing on the street, they signaled directions with hand gestures to the man at the alley mouth and followed in pursuit as well.

The secret agent who had been chasing earlier broke into another frantic sprint. The others were all some distance away; now he was alone and could afford no slip-up. That someone was shielding the beggar in this manner meant they were likely nearing the destination. Westward lay Chaotianmen Avenue, densely populated and lined with shops — searching there would be extremely difficult. Once the beggar vanished and changed his appearance, he would be hard to identify.

After the scout emerged from the alley mouth, he found himself on a small side street very close to Chaotianmen Avenue; the front gates of some compounds opened directly onto the avenue. There were few people on the street, but no sign of the beggar. Anxiety gnawed at the scout. He stepped onto the street, his heart pounding violently from the run, his temples throbbing. He still had to feign nonchalance, control his breathing, show no sign of having just sprinted, and dared not reveal any watchful expression. He strolled slowly along the street, observing the passersby as casually as possible, paying special attention to anyone in long robes.

A man wearing a cotton Daoist robe and a square cap caught his eye. This style was also common in the Ming dynasty and not exclusive to Daoist priests. The original beggar had worn tattered short clothes; this kind of long robe could completely cover the upper body.

He dared not stare, but from the corner of his eye he noted the man's complexion was rather dark, similar to the beggar's skin tone. When the robed man walked past, the scout turned his head slightly. He observed the man's posture — it matched the stride and form he had noted when he first began tailing him, even the sway of the shoulders was identical. Moreover, the edge of the man's square cap had an irregular shape, as if it had been put on hastily, and his hair was not bound with a net cap underneath. The scout quickly turned back and began haggling with the rock-sugar vendor in front of him, having already settled on the robed man as the suspect in his mind.

The robed man walked on ahead. The other person who had provided cover earlier only now emerged from that alley mouth, his clothes unchanged. He did not, however, head in the robed man's direction, but walked northward instead.

The robed man was heading toward the far end of this street. The scout did not hurry; while picking out rock sugar, he kept the man in his peripheral vision. By the time the vendor had weighed the sugar, the scout smoothly changed direction. As he turned his head, the robed man's figure disappeared into the back gate of a compound.

The secret agent memorized the location, but now he faced a dilemma. If this compound was merely another cover point, the target might leave through a different gate. He hesitated a moment, then finally walked west into a small lane. When he emerged from the lane mouth, he was already on the bustling Chaotianmen Avenue.

Based on the position he had noted from the street behind, he saw that the front of that compound was a shop. The signboard bore two large characters: "Wantong." The scout concentrated intently, watching everyone near the shop entrances, his heart uneasy.

Fortunately, the robed man did not emerge again. A moment later, the two reinforcements arrived. The scout described the beggar's altered appearance to them, pointed out the location, and had the two men watch the back gate. Only then did he walk past the shop's front entrance and casually glance inside. A shop assistant was buying goods — it seemed to be cigarettes, salt, and such. He breathed a sigh of relief, his racing heartbeat slowing. At the very least, he had found a fixed den, not an empty cover point.

"My lord, look — it's that Wantong Trading Shop. The beggar we tracked yesterday works inside as an assistant. My subordinate sent someone in once and confirmed it's the same beggar from yesterday. The shop used to sell charcoal; now it mainly deals in Wendeng incense, pepper, tea, and bulk sea salt. The cigarettes and pepper aren't bought from the trading company but through the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. We went to see Lord Liu. He made a pretext of a routine inspection of the Bureau and pulled the records of Wendeng incense transfers for the last three months. This Wantong Trading Shop was one of them. It was Chen Jingdan who approved it, on the grounds that the shop could sell bulk sea salt to Ningyuan, so approving some tobacco would win over their main office."

The next day, in a teahouse at Chaotianmen, Zhou Shifa, dressed in silks and satins and carrying a birdcage, sat on the second floor. Beside him was Zhang Dong, just back from Zhangjiakou, and across sat the captain of the inspection squad that had earned the merit this time. The squad leader speaking was the same team leader who had kept watch at Chen Jingdan's door the day before.

Zhou Shifa's seat faced south, giving him a direct view of the Wantong Trading Shop's storefront. Zhou Shifa and his companions all wore beaming smiles, as if they were relatives chatting amiably, but the words they spoke were anything but ordinary.

"Since Chen Jingdan approved cigarettes for Wantong, the matter is confirmed. The man has nerve, but he's also stupid enough — abandoning a high post in Dengzhou to be a running dog for the Tatars. When the time comes, I'll interrogate him personally." Zhang Dong's tone was icy.

Zhou Shifa looked at the squad captain. "Are there any other suspicious shops on the nearby streets?"

The squad captain said, "Two places are suspicious. One is a calligraphy-and-painting stall diagonally opposite the hideout — the man writes door couplets and letters for people, but his eyes often scan his surroundings while writing. The other is a steamed-bun shop. No other shops raise suspicion. Should we move and arrest all of them first?"

Zhou Shifa murmured thoughtfully without speaking. Zhang Dong said gravely, "Lord Zhou, I keep feeling this isn't where the ringleader is. Should we find someone to set up a storefront here and cast a long line?"

Zhou Shifa was silent for a long moment, then tapped the table lightly. "Keep this place under tight watch. When I think back on Chen Jingdan's bearing, he's definitely a trained fighter, knows a few moves. Thinking back, he often had access to Lord Liu, and those present were only civil affairs officials who couldn't fight their way out of a paper bag. If he took a desperate risk and assassinated Mr. Liu..."

Zhang Dong lowered his head and said, "Chen Jingdan was recruited by Xu Yuanhua. Civil Affairs has hired so many people over the years, and Lord Liu has never allowed us to inquire — at most he gives us a résumé. If problems arise, it's Civil Affairs' responsibility. Lord Chen can't very well blame it all on our Intelligence Bureau."

Zhou Shifa exhaled softly. At least they now had some clues, and his mood was relatively relaxed. He did not rebuke Zhang Dong, but shook his head with a smile. "If everything under heaven could be settled by reasoning, there'd be no need for our Intelligence Bureau. Remember this: this matter touches on Mr. Liu's safety. Not the slightest carelessness is allowed. If anything goes wrong, both you and I will lose our heads."

Zhang Dong sighed and said to Zhou Shifa, "In that case, your subordinate suggests we protect our heads first. Better not cast a long line. Move to arrest when the city gates close tonight. The ringleader won't be able to leave the city at night; we'll have a whole night to interrogate under torture. There's always a chance."

"As a backup plan. I will go report this to Lord Chen and request his decision. Notify the action team to stand by. No one is to act alone."

"What does the Intelligence Bureau propose to do?"

After hearing Zhou Shifa's report, Chen Xin asked softly. Beside him, Liu Minyou merely listened quietly. He had not expected Chen Jingdan to be a spy, because Chen Jingdan was sharp-minded and held a high position; he knew Dengzhou's prospects very well. Being a spy for the Jianzhou bandits truly offered him no benefits.

"Your subordinate has two plans. One is to cast a long line and transmit some false intelligence..."

"You intend to leave Chen Jingdan in place?"

Zhou Shifa said cautiously, "Your subordinate was thinking, at least let the people at Wantong Trading Shop send the message out. That way the Intelligence Bureau can sort out all their nodes. This shop may only be a place for receiving intelligence; there may be other spies we don't know about. As long as we keep the shop under tight watch, we can find them one by one. So Chen Jingdan cannot be touched for now, because your subordinate estimates that gatekeeper may be one of the Jianzhou bandits' men, and we still don't know if there are other spies in the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. Once we arrest Chen Jingdan, we'll alert the enemy."

"What false information was released to Chen Jingdan's group?"

"Requisitioning trading company ships. Recruiting sailors familiar with the sea routes to Dongjiang Town. Also, he may know about the fourth item..."

Liu Minyou added, "That is, releasing some of the Mongol captives, to make the Mongols cut off the trade route from Zhangjiakou to Liaodong."

Chen Xin nodded. The Jianzhou bandits had just suffered a defeat, and the outer-subject Mongols accompanying them had taken heavy losses. What Huang Taiji feared most was probably the Mongols being drawn to Dengzhou's side. Zhangjiakou was the Later Jin's channel for exchanging goods; many Later Jin spies entered the pass through Zhangjiakou, so they knew its importance.

Chen Xin's fingers tapped lightly on the table. Only after a moment did he say, "I'll give you just one day. Dengzhou's high command cannot harbor a spy for long. If your Intelligence Bureau watches the shop, the Jianzhou bandits may also notice, and then all your efforts will be for nothing. Since Wantong Trading Shop has received the intelligence, they'll be anxious to send it out soon, especially the item about the Mongols — the Jianzhou bandits' spies know its importance. As for Chen Jingdan, we can also extract some things after capturing him. According to Mr. Liu, this man is quite shrewd. People like that mostly won't resist stubbornly. If necessary, you can offer him terms in exchange."

"Yes, your subordinate will move the day after tomorrow."

"When you move, think of a better way. Arresting Chen Jingdan may not necessarily alert the Jianzhou bandits immediately. Don't forget, he draws a salary from our Dengzhou Garrison."

The next day in the afternoon, Chen Yijing, under the alias Chen Jingdan, returned home from the Bureau of Industry and Commerce. The gatekeeper came to greet him, very deferential at the doorway, but once inside the gate he dropped his smile. "Why are you back so early today? Have you found out clearly about the things I told you to inquire about?"

"The place where the Mongols to be released are held is an Intelligence Bureau secret; their names and tribes are even less clear. I'm a deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce — how could I find out that fast? I have to beat around the bush. When they finally leave, they'll all go through the trading company, most likely by ship to Tianjin or Ningyuan. Only then will we know."

"Only knowing the location just before departure — what use are you."

Chen Yijing replied coldly, "Surnamed Li, it's you people who need me, not me begging you."

Their gazes crossed, equally fierce. Chen Yijing, living in constant fear every day, was already on the verge of breaking under the pressure. Now seeing this Li Ken still trying to threaten him, a flame of anger rose in his heart.

Li Ken was the head of Li Yongfang's retainers, always fond of violence and brawling. Together with two others, he had been placed in Chen Yijing's home — nominally as servants, but in reality to watch over Chen Yijing's family.

Li Ken leaned close to Chen Yijing's face. "Daring to speak like that in front of your master, believe me or not I'll..."

"I advise you, Brother Li, to think carefully before you speak. Without me giving you intelligence, what damn use are you few in Dengzhou? Stop putting on your master act for me." Chen Yijing sneered, cutting Li Ken off. "You want to threaten me? At worst you expose my identity to the Dengzhou Garrison, or kill my whole family. I naturally have a backup plan. You won't fare well either. Try me if you don't believe it."

Li Ken's eyes narrowed. This Chen Yijing spoke calmly, but Li Ken knew the backup plan Chen Yijing spoke of most likely existed — perhaps a secret letter left with someone trustworthy, to be handed to the Dengzhou Garrison if anything happened to him. Because Chen Yijing needed to approve cigarette supplies, and only a shop was qualified, Chen Yijing knew about Wantong Trading Shop.

Seeing that Chen Yijing still dared to threaten him, Li Ken grabbed Chen Yijing by the collar. "You dog slave, think the Prince Consort has no backup..." Li Ken suddenly recalled something and stopped.

"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Chen Yijing was not the least bit flustered and even had the mood to mock Li Ken. "In one sentence you've made three mistakes. Without me looking after you, you'd have been caught long ago. If Proprietor Li is ever caught one day, it'll most likely be your fault."

Li Ken swallowed his anger and shoved Chen Yijing away. "Chen Yijing, I didn't come to quarrel with you. But your disrespect to me — I'm noting it down. We'll settle accounts later. Today we only talk business. Why did you come back so early? When can you get word on the Mongol matter?"

"This morning Lord Liu notified me to accompany him to Lingshan Guard to inspect the Lingshan Guard cotton textile factory. Perhaps Regional Commander Chen is coming too."

Li Ken asked suspiciously, "Why call you? What's worth seeing at a cloth-weaving place? Who are you trying to fool?"

Chen Yijing looked at the brute before him with pity. "You ask what I'm going to do? I'm the deputy director of the Bureau of Industry and Commerce, and I'm the one in charge of cotton spinning. If you knew what use weaving cloth is, you wouldn't be Proprietor Li's errand dog."

Li Ken was so angry his eyes blazed. Chen Yijing chuckled. This Li Ken had pushed him to the wall; if he didn't strike back like this, he'd have no way to live in the days ahead. After today's clash, Li Ken should restrain himself somewhat.

He turned and went back inside to pack his things. Li Ken asked from behind, "Chen Xin is going too? How many days will you be gone?"

Chen Yijing tossed back a line, "I'll be gone for ten-odd days, maybe a month. This isn't up to me. Traveling with the two lords, it depends on their schedule. And don't ask about the route. With just the few of you, if you're thinking of assassinating Chen Xin, save your breath."

Chen Yijing hastily ate lunch, then returned to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce with his bundle. The Bureau was located southeast of the Water City, where the entire Civil Affairs Department was situated. Outwardly it was no different from a military camp, nominally just the advisory staff office of the Dengzhou Garrison Regional Commander.

According to plan, they were to assemble at the end of the wu hour, travel half a day, and spend the night at a garrison farm in Huangxian. Everyone would ride horses. When he reached the Civil Affairs Department gate, the two guards there saluted him. Chen Yijing felt both a measure of pride and an inexplicable tension. As a merchant, he had never before held a position like today's, yet this position was now precarious because of Li Yongfang's arrival. From the moment Li Yongfang appeared until now, Chen Yijing had never slept a single peaceful night. If the Dengzhou Garrison discovered him, or if Li Yongfang betrayed him, he would lose everything.

At the entrance to the Bureau of Industry and Commerce's branch courtyard, he saw his mount already tethered outside — his assistant had seen to it. Xu Yuanhua's mount was there too. Chen Yijing let out a long breath, steadied his restless emotions, and walked through the gate.

Everyone he met greeted this deputy director in charge of cotton spinning — it was a major project for all of Dengzhou, and being put in charge of it signaled great prospects.

Chen Yijing, his face full of geniality, spoke with those people; even as he habitually stayed alert to his surroundings, he noticed nothing out of the ordinary. At that moment he very much wished to set off early — at least once he left Dengzhou, he would no longer have to suffer Li Yongfang's coercion.

Chen Yijing could not help quickening his pace. He walked all the way to the door of his own office, opened it, and tidied up the documents. Just then his assistant arrived, saying that Sir Liu had notified everyone to assemble in the departmental conference room. Chen Yijing hurriedly gathered his things and strode to Liu Minyou's private little courtyard.

Liu Minyou's adjutant was waiting right at the conference room door. Seeing Chen Yijing approach, he invited him in. Chen Yijing expressed his thanks, stepped through the door, walked two paces, and then stopped dead, stunned.

Inside the room stood five men in black. Seated in the place of honor was the man he most dreaded seeing — Zhou Shifa of the Intelligence Bureau. Beside him sat Zhang Dong, whom he had met twice before. Both sat utterly composed and unmoving in their high seats; Zhang Dong did not even glance at him, but was instead playing with his own fingernails.

Chen Yijing tilted his head slightly to glance at both sides — several black-clad men had already closed in around him. He raised his head and sighed; the bundle in his hand dropped dejectedly to the floor.