Chapter 753: Deep Night, Fragrant Warmth

Count's Prefecture, Jia Cong's Courtyard.

It was already evening, the sun was sinking in the west, and the sky was dim. Qing Wen entered the study to light the candles, then exited again.

Jia Cong listened to Daiyu's words and thought very seriously, saying, "Sister's words make sense. Tomorrow I will go find She Yue to talk and tease her."

"Otherwise, it would be too regrettable to fail Second Sister's love for me and Sister-in-law's good intentions."

"I remember She Yue is quite spirited; maybe she really likes me."

Daiyu heard Jia Cong's boastful words, her brows couldn't help but wrinkle into a ball. She hummed and reached out to pull Jia Cong's corners of the mouth on both sides.

She said, "Third Brother is truly thick-skinned, saying whatever scattered and crooked words come to his mouth without any shame. See if I don't tear your mouth."

Jia Cong hurriedly begged for mercy, "Good sister, let go, let go, it hurts..."

Daiyu hummed, then let go, and rubbed Jia Cong's corners of the mouth twice.

Jia Cong said, "Good sister, I am talking to you seriously. Yesterday Xiao Hong came to report that the Second Lady wanted to drive She Yue away, which seemed malicious."

"I sent word to Sister-in-law to handle it properly. Although I don't manage household affairs, I cannot let the family lose its order and cause ugly accidents."

"I didn't expect Sister-in-law to misunderstand my meaning, thinking I fancied She Yue, and even brought Second Sister along. This has nothing to do with me."

"However, when Wu Er went to the Western Prefecture to manage the household, she took away Second Sister's steward maid to help. Now Second Sister's side has a vacancy."

"This She Yue is said to be clever and capable. Letting her fill the vacancy as Second Sister's steward maid is just right, which can be considered a mistake."

Daiyu laughed, "I knew Third Brother's nature. Whenever it comes to beautiful girls or pretty maids, you are particularly easy to get involved."

"Third Brother, are you particularly proud of this? Just tell me the truth, at worst I won't laugh at you."

Jia Cong looked at Daiyu's flower-like lips and couldn't help but say, "Sister's little mouth is so eloquent, it really makes people angry."

"Let me pinch your face twice, to save me from being embarrassed by you every day."

As he spoke, he reached out to pinch Daiyu's face. Daiyu laughed and dodged nimbly, and the two dodged back and forth in the room.

Daiyu laughed breathlessly, "Third Brother, I don't dare to laugh at you anymore. Spare me this time..."

Qing Wen, who was chatting with Zi Juan on the veranda, heard the laughter and movement in the room, her footsteps chaotic, and she spat out her tongue in schadenfreude.

Zi Juan also had a red face, looked at the study, and didn't go in to persuade, just covered her mouth and laughed.

When night fell, Jia Cong asked Qing Wen to go to the kitchen to order a few more dishes that Daiyu loved, and kept her for dinner together.

When everyone sat down to eat, Daiyu was from Gusu and loved the fresh sweetness of Southern dishes.

Seeing that besides the dishes added for her, the other dishes were also Southern style, she ate quite deliciously.

She saw the steamed rice served was light green in color, soft and fluffy, and fragrant.

She laughed, "The green-stemmed rice Third Brother uses is even better than what the prefecture usually uses."

Jia Cong laughed, "This was sent by Sister Bao a few days ago, saying it was obtained by Brother Xue at the Duan family grain shop in the north of the city."

"It is new rice from Yutian County in Beizhili. This year Beizhili suffered a natural disaster, and rice production dropped significantly."

"The new green-stemmed rice from Yutian County is very expensive in the market now, and it's hard to buy even with silver."

This meal was eaten quite sweetly. The two would occasionally bicker and say witty remarks at the table, and the atmosphere was harmonious, making others laugh often.

After dinner and evening tea, the night grew deeper.

Outside the window, the north wind was howling, and the night became colder. Because it was getting late, Daiyu got up to go back.

Jia Cong added charcoal to her hand warmer and asked Zhi Shao to take a cloak, which he personally draped over her and tied the neck strap.

The two left the courtyard, with Zi Juan holding a lantern to lead the way in front, and Qing Wen holding a lantern behind.

The bright yellow lantern light illuminated the stone path in the garden. Daiyu held the warm hand warmer in her arms, watching the shadows of the two overlapping intimately on the ground.

A sense of peaceful warmth grew in her heart. Following the light of the lantern, the group walked slowly through the night.

……

Love Shenjing, Tongwen Hall of the Court of State Ceremonial.

Four large carts full of grain were lined up at the gate of the hall. Several small officials of Tongwen Hall climbed onto the grain carts to count the quantity of grain.

Duan Chunjiang's expression was respectful, and his face carried a flattering look, negotiating with an official while holding a grain-selling document.

That official was Liu Xiaoping, the newly appointed registrar of the Court of State Ceremonial. Not long after, several small officials counted the number of grain and reported to Liu Xiaoping respectively.

Liu Xiaoping checked the quantity of grain, which was consistent with the document shown by Duan Chunjiang, so he signed and stamped the document.

The four grain carts entered Tongwen Hall one after another, and the accompanying shop assistants and Tongwen Hall handymen stepped forward to move the grain into the warehouse.

Liu Xiaoping saw Duan Chunjiang enter Tongwen Hall, followed by a young man, dressed in luxurious clothes, with large eyes and a square mouth, looking quite imposing.

Because of the grain purchase in Tongwen Hall, Liu Xiaoping had seen Duan Chunjiang several times, but this young man was a new face, so he couldn't help but look a few more times.

Duan Chunjiang was an extremely shrewd person. Seeing Liu Xiaoping's gaze and expression, he guessed what he was thinking.

He laughed flatteringly, "Master Liu, this brother is our grain shop's Second Manager Xue."

Liu Xiaoping heard that he was also a manager of the Duan family grain shop, so he didn't care much and turned to leave with the document.

……

Xue Pan was a commoner and usually couldn't enter government offices like Tongwen Hall. Today he specifically followed Duan Chunjiang to see the world.

Duan Chunjiang laughed, "Thanks to Brother Xue's wide connections and paving the way for me to meet noble people, I was able to do the big business of Tongwen Hall."

Xue Pan laughed carelessly, "Brother Duan, these words are distant. I also have a share in this grain shop; am I not also earning silver for myself?"

Duan Chunjiang laughed, "Last time Brother Xue said your family loves to eat that green-stemmed rice, I have already asked the assistants to set aside ten bags, and I have already sent them to Rongguo Prefecture this morning."

Xue Pan laughed, "Then thank you, Brother Duan."

Duan Chunjiang laughed, "We who open grain shops, a few bags of fine rice are nothing; it's worth you saying thank you."

The two were just chatting casually. Liu Xiaoping, who was about to leave, suddenly heard the words "Rongguo Prefecture" and his heart moved slightly.

He turned his head to look at Xue Pan a few times, then left calmly.

……

Tongwen Hall, in the hostel of the Tuman Tribe, the heads of the three major delegations gathered here.

They were the leader of the Tuman Tribe, Ale Tang; the Yongxielun Tribe's Gai Ertai; and the Ordos Tribe's Nayan Taiji.

Ale Tang was a man in his forties, of medium height, strong build, with a thick, graying beard.

He was a trusted minister of Anda Khan of the Tuman Tribe, not only shrewd and eloquent but also a brave grassland warrior.

This time, the three major tribes of the remnant Mongols entered the capital to seek peace. The negotiation and determination of various peace items were all led by the Tuman Tribe.

Ale Tang could be chosen by Anda Khan as the leader of the Tuman Tribe delegation, which showed how much he was trusted.

Ale Tang said, "Since the delegation arrived in the Love Shenjing, the Great Zhou Emperor has sent the Minister of War, Gu Yankui, and the Grand Secretary of the Cabinet and Minister of Revenue, Wang Shilun."

"They have negotiated with us many times on peace items. These two, one civil and one military, are the backbone ministers of the Great Zhou Emperor, shrewd and capable, and very difficult to deal with."

"Regarding the tea-horse market we proposed to reopen, and the annual trade of grain, cloth, tea, salt, and iron, they have repeatedly lowered the transaction quantity."

"For important items like salt and iron, they are even more harsh to the extreme."

"We requested to trade two thousand wrought iron pots annually, but the Zhou people proposed that we can only trade three hundred cast iron pots annually, and the quantity will decrease year by year."

Nayan Taiji said, "Cast iron pots are cast from inferior iron, heavy in weight, easy to break, and not durable."

"We Mongols live by water and grass; carrying these cast iron pots is very inconvenient."

"The Zhou people are preventing us from getting wrought iron pots to forge into weapons to deal with them. It can be considered deep-thinking and long-term planning."

Ale Tang looked at Nayan Taiji and said, "I heard on the grassland that Nayan has been familiar with Han books since childhood and is indeed familiar with the tricks of the Han people."

"I know that among the Mongol tribes, there are always some people who hope to take shortcuts and get what they want through convenient ways."

"But the Han people are naturally cunning and deep in calculation; they won't let us succeed easily."

"Our Khan once said that the descendants of Genghis Khan are eagles on the grassland."

"We have known a truth for generations: Eternal Heaven will not pity the weak. What you want cannot be obtained by begging, only by war horses and curved swords!"

"These days, I have been pulling and pushing with Great Zhou officials, and I no longer hold hope for this peace talk. The Zhou Emperor's city is gloomy, and he won't give us a chance to breathe."

……

Nayan Taiji's bright eyes were deep and asked, "Does Ale Tang mean we don't need to talk to the Zhou people anymore?"

Ale Tang smiled gloomily and said, "We still need to talk, and we must go all out to talk."

"Even if the Zhou people lower the transaction quantity of the market, having it is better than not having it. We cannot return empty-handed."

"Besides, we have been in the grassland facing the wind and snow, living too many bitter days. The Love Shenjing is the majestic city of the world, rich and glorious, comparable to the Heavenly Palace."

"Being able to linger here for a few more days is also a beautiful thing. I am not in a hurry to leave for a while."

Nayan Taiji heard that there seemed to be another meaning in Ale Tang's words, and his gaze flickered slightly.

……

Ale Tang continued, "I have received news that the Great Zhou's Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard have already sent a large number of spies."

"They are monitoring everyone in the delegation, worrying that we will take advantage of the peace talks to carry out espionage and dark schemes."

"You must restrain your subordinates, reduce going out recently, and be cautious in everything. You must not leave any handle. Otherwise, if the Zhou people seize the handle, once they suddenly make trouble in the peace talks, the matter will be difficult to handle."

The leader of the Yongxielun Tribe, Gai Ertai, asked, "Ale Tang, how did you know the movements of the Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard? Is the news accurate?"

Ale Tang said, "Our Tuman Tribe has its own sources of information. This matter is absolutely true. The Zhou people are cunning; such actions are not strange."

Gai Ertai didn't ask any more questions after hearing this. He knew Anda Khan was ambitious and deep in city, and had been planning to go south for many years.

To achieve his ambition, Anda Khan had made many arrangements in advance and had recruited many Great Zhou criminal generals and strategists over the years.

So it was expected that Anda Khan had buried dark stakes in the Love Shenjing or had some secret connections.

The Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard mobilized a large number of spies, although they would act in secret, they would inevitably cause quite a stir, making it difficult to hide from people in the officialdom.

It was not difficult for the Tuman Tribe to obtain the dynamics of the Great Zhou government through certain managed connections.

Compared to Gai Ertai's secret speculation, Nayan Taiji was even clearer in his heart. Anda Khan must have left a backhand in the Love Shenjing long ago.

He immediately thought of that mysterious Duan family grain shop. The manager Duan Qingjiang was Anda Khan's Darughachi; he must shoulder some kind of mission.

Those who are good at planning have always paid attention to "cunning rabbits having three burrows." In the vast Love Shenjing, does Anda Khan only have this one dark stake, Duan Chunjiang...

……

Nayan Taiji left the Tuman Tribe hostel, passed through the Tongwen Hall veranda, and went to his residence.

The biting cold wind blew, making his moon-white beard robe flutter, making his waist look even more slender and straight.

He carried his hands behind his back, his long fingers moving unconsciously.

Suddenly he saw many Tongwen Hall handymen moving grain from four large carts. Although he looked a few more times, he didn't care much.

After entering his hostel, he had the maid serve him to change into Han clothes, combed his hair again, and was a proper handsome young man of the Han family.

He picked two guards and left Tongwen Hall together. After turning two street corners, he entered a teahouse on the street.

After sitting down in a private room on the second floor, he ordered the guards a few words. Not long after the man went out, he brought a man in.

This man was tall and thin, dressed in ordinary clothes, his back slightly hunched, looking very inconspicuous.

Nayan Taiji asked, "Shu Ergan, in the past ten days, has there been any movement in the Duan family grain shop?"

Shu Ergan said, "Reporting to Taiji, recently Xue Pan and Duan Chunjiang have been in close contact, often taking him to associate with noble children in the capital."

"Either gathering for banquets or entering the Sixteen Buildings to seek flowers and ask for willows, in short, they are all winning over these noble children."

"Recently, Duan Chunjiang, introduced by Xue Pan, has been in close contact with Chen Richang, the second grandson of the Duke of Qi, and seems to be using all means to curry favor and associate with this person."

"Eating, drinking, and playing are never-ending. He even redeemed a red singing girl from the Sixteen Buildings and sent her to Chen Richang as an outside concubine."

"Chen Richang then used his connections to help Duan Chunjiang complete the grain business of Tongwen Hall."

Nayan Taiji's heart moved, recalling that he had just seen the large carts moving grain in Tongwen Hall.

He asked, "Besides being the second grandson of the Duke of Qi, does that Chen Richang have any other background?"

Shu Ergan said, "I have already secretly inquired. Chen Richang works in the Great Zhou's Five Military Commissions, and his duties involve the transportation of military grain."

"I feel that Duan Chunjiang's deliberate association with this person must have ulterior motives."

Nayan Taiji heard that Chen Richang worked in the Five Military Commissions and was involved in the transportation of military grain, and his heart couldn't help but jump suddenly.

After thinking for a moment, he said, "Shu Ergan, stay away from the Duan family grain shop in the future, and slow down the monitoring of Duan Chunjiang."

"You must be cautious in your actions and must not let anyone detect any clues, thinking that the Ordos Tribe has ties with the Duan family grain shop."

Shu Ergan's expression was puzzled and asked, "Taiji, what does this mean?"

Nayan Taiji said, "Today, Ale Tang said the Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent a large number of spies to check the movements of the delegation members."

"Preventing the delegation from spying, Duan Chunjiang approached the officials of the Five Military Commissions, which must have a plan. Could Ale Tang of the Tuman Tribe be unaware?"

"I think the Tuman Tribe must have had a plan long ago. Ale Tang warned us and the Yongxielun Tribe to restrain our subordinates and not move lightly. This is because he is worried about ruining their affairs."

"This game is played by Great Zhou and the Tuman Tribe. It is already quite good that our Ordos Tribe has not become a pawn."

"Since there is no benefit to be gained now, we might as well watch the game without speaking, avoid trouble, leave more back roads, and wait quietly for the change in the general situation."

……

Love Shenjing, Yongchun Street, Duan family grain shop.

Duan Chunjiang was counting on the abacus at the counter, checking and recording accounts, humming a little tune in his mouth, looking quite satisfied.

The busy assistants in the shop didn't find it strange that their manager was satisfied.

The manager had completed the big business of Tongwen Hall. The profit from this one entry and exit was enough to offset half a year's income of the shop. Being happy was human nature.

At this time, a guest entered the shop door, with a strong build, bright clothes, and an ordinary appearance, looking like a merchant with some family property.

Duan Chunjiang laughed, "So it's Boss Sun. The new rice from Yutian County you wanted arrived yesterday, and I was just waiting for you to come to the door."

Boss Sun laughed, "Then trouble Manager Duan to take me to see the goods."

Duan Chunjiang put down the abacus in his hand, asked the assistant to find a shop business, and took Boss Sun into the back hall with a full face of smiles.

But the two didn't enter the warehouse, but turned into a side room next to the warehouse.

After Duan Chunjiang closed the door, Boss Sun said, "Manager Duan, I heard rumors that the Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard sent a large number of spies."

"They have been secretly checking the movements of the Mongol delegation in the city these few days. Will it involve the grain shop?"

Duan Chunjiang said, "Brother Dali, rest assured. After the delegation entered the capital, they only purchased grain initially, and someone had been to the grain shop once."

"But at that time, they had been to all the grain shops in the city, and the Great Zhou Ministry of War issued a grain purchase ban, so the matter was left unsettled."

"Except for this one, the government officials will not pay attention to the Duan family grain shop. Besides this, I have never contacted the delegation."

"All news is only contacted with you alone. The Court of Judicial Review and the Embroidered Uniform Guard are working on the delegation, so it won't involve the Duan family grain shop."

Sun Dali put his mind at ease after hearing this and asked, "Has any news about the grain route been found from Chen Richang?"

Duan Chunjiang shook his head and said, "Among the noble children, although Chen Richang is not outstanding, this person is very careful and cautious."

"I often invite him out for banquets and enjoyment. Although I occasionally ask sideways, this person's mouth is very tight and never mentions official business in the government office."

Sun Dali's expression was somewhat disappointed and said, "It's just a noble child; how can he be so seamless and impeccable?"

Duan Chunjiang laughed and said, "That's not necessarily the case. But these secondary noble children will not be able to inherit the family business in the future."

"Like Jia Cong of Rongguo Prefecture, who is a concubine's son and became the legal heir, it is extremely rare in Great Zhou."

"Such secondary noble children cannot bear heavy responsibilities. Even if they are careful, they are not impeccable. It's just that attacking their weaknesses is a lot of trouble."

"The problems of these young men are nothing more than two things: either they love money or they love sex. This Chen Richang is a lecher."

"Every time I invite him to the Sixteen Buildings to sleep with girls, he is extremely willing. Although he still doesn't discuss official business in the government office."

"But once he was having fun with a girl, and after drinking a few more glasses of wine, he accidentally said two more sentences."

"He said that a month ago he went north on official business and stayed at a half-covered private hostel in Yaoshan Station for a day."

"He said the woman sitting in the room there was a rare beauty, full of charm, soul-stirring, and unforgettable. The girls in the Sixteen Buildings were all a notch worse."

"At that time, he was talking excitedly, looking like his soul was taken by color, so he must have a deep impression of that place."

"I paid attention to this matter. Afterward, I inquired from many sources and learned that Chen Richang did go out on official business a month ago, and it was to escort grain north."

"As long as you make a simple inference, this batch of grain must be the combat-ready military grain on the Datong front line. As a military officer in the Five Military Commissions, he was likely one of the grain-escorting officers at the time."

"Escorting military grain is a matter of strict military discipline. There are strict regulations on the route along the way, and he would never dare to leave privately to visit a prostitute."

"Therefore, the military grain escort on the Datong front line must have Yaoshan Station as a midway stop."

"Afterward, I also asked someone to inquire and learned that Yaoshan Station not only has a government hostel but also a military hostel of considerable scale, which must be a midway point for military grain."

Duan Chunjiang took out a map from a hidden place in the room and spread it on the table.

A place on the map had already been circled and marked with vermilion, writing the three words "Baotunli."

Sun Dali said, "I have already sent people to inquire last time. In the past few months, a large number of military vehicles have passed through Baotunli, and the defense within a few miles is strict, making it difficult to approach and investigate."

Duan Chunjiang found Yaoshan Station on the map, then also circled it with vermilion, and then connected the two places with a red line.

A clear grain route appeared before the two. The direction of the red line was in the core area of several border towns east of Datong.

Boss Sun said, "It is at least seven or eight hundred miles from Yaoshan Station to the border towns, and it will pass through four or five military hostels along the way."

"The closer to the nine border towns, the denser the towns and stations along the way. I only know the two stops of Baotunli and Yaoshan Station."

"We still cannot determine the direction of the grain route, and it is difficult to peek into the key points of the Great Zhou's troop deployment in various towns."

"At least one more transit point needs to be investigated before we can accurately infer the direction of the Great Zhou's grain route."

"This matter is very important for the Khan's troop deployment. Does Manager Duan have any other way to investigate news about other grain routes?"

Duan Chunjiang said, "Yesterday Chen Richang suddenly left the Love Shenjing, and his whereabouts are uncertain."

"The actions of the Five Military Commissions involve military secrets, and relevant news can only be known after a long time."

"Now that the matter is at hand, the specific reasons are difficult to know, but I guess it is mostly escorting military grain again."

Sun Dali looked anxious and said, "Now that Chen Richang is not in the Love Shenjing, where can we go to inquire about news?"

Duan Chunjiang laughed proudly, "I said this person loves sex. Even if he is not in the city, there is no big obstacle."

"I have already laid another dark chess piece, hoping for good news..." (End of chapter) ===== CHAPTER 754 =====