Chapter 466: Dark Currents in the Market

At a deserted river bend near Stone Stele Village, the caravan set up a temporary camp.

Here the reeds are tall and deep, the terrain is concealed, and there is a small path leading to the official road, suitable for advance or retreat.

The next morning, Chen Wen made arrangements.

"Shi Dun, take a few brothers and stay behind to guard the camp, familiarize yourselves with the surrounding terrain, especially the water conditions."

"Qian Gui, you and I will take thirty or fifty people, pose as ordinary merchants, and go to Yuncheng County and nearby towns to have a look."

"What you hear is false, what you see is real. Only in the market can we glimpse the true situation of this place."

"Yes!"

Everyone received the orders and went their separate ways.

Chen Wen and Qian Gui, accompanied by two alert and steady guards, changed into half-new cotton robes, posing as small merchants who purchase mountain and leather goods, and set off along the dirt road toward Yuncheng County first.

Although Yuncheng is the seat of the county, its walls are not high or grand, and some sections even show signs of damage.

At the city gate, a few lazy soldiers kept watch; they did not strictly inspect people coming and going, their attention more often falling on the packages and goods carried by passersby, revealing a hint of greed.

After paying a small entry fee, the group entered the city.

The streets were fairly wide, but the road surface was pitted and uneven; shops lined both sides, and the cries of vendors never ceased, making it quite lively.

However, upon closer look, one could see that many passersby wore worried expressions, and shop assistants' attempts to attract customers also carried a hint of forced cheer.

The air was filled with a mixed smell of low-quality grease, sweat, and a faint, elusive stench of decay.

Qian Gui, familiar with the area, led Chen Wen first toward the market.

He seemingly casually stopped at a stall selling straw sandals run by an old man, picked up a pair to examine, and asked offhand:

"Old sir, these sandals are tightly woven; how much for a pair?"

Seeing a customer inquiring about price, the old man quickly put on a smiling face:

"You have a good eye, sir; three cash for a pair, five cash for two pairs."

Qian Gui did not haggle, took out five cash and handed it over, received two pairs of sandals, and then struck up a conversation:

"Old sir, we are merchants from the north, newly arrived in your esteemed place; we wish to purchase some mountain goods and leather. I don't know which goods store in Yuncheng County offers fair prices? Has the market been peaceful lately?"

After taking the money, the old man's attitude became more enthusiastic, and he lowered his voice to say:

"You are a discerning sir; you've asked the right question."

"In Yuncheng County, for purchasing mountain goods and leather, the Liu Ji Goods Store west of the city offers fairly reasonable prices; the proprietor surnamed Liu is also fairly upright."

"As for peace..."

He glanced left and right, then lowered his voice further.

"On the surface it's passable, but outside the city…… it's not peaceful."

"Especially near Liangshanpo, both water and land routes are unsafe. If you sir are heading that way, you must be careful."

"Oh? How is it not peaceful?" Qian Gui feigned surprise.

"Ah, mostly it's those who can't make a living, forced onto the mountain."

The old man sighed.

"There are also ruthless bandits."

"Not long ago, I heard that the Ruan brothers of Stone Stele Village clashed with a gang of outside bandits, fought a fierce battle, and only because the Ruan brothers were skilled in water and formidable in tactics did they avoid loss."

"The Ruan brothers?" Qian Gui showed curiosity at the right moment.

"They are Ruan Xiaoer, Ruan Xiaowu, and Ruan Xiaoqi, three heroes of Stone Stele Village."

The old man's face showed a hint of admiration.

"They are local famous heroes, deep in righteousness, and their water skills are superb; ordinary people dare not provoke them."

After chatting a few more words, thanking the old man, Qian Gui and Chen Wen exchanged a glance and continued on their way.

After making a round of the market, they bought some local specialties as cover, while gathering various bits of information with their ears.

Some complained that this summer's rainfall was insufficient, fearing it would affect the harvest;

some quietly cursed the government for levying the 'anti-bandit surcharge';

some whispered in private, discussing which wealthy household had been extorted again, which caravan had suffered looting.

Various signs of chaos appeared, and resentment surged beneath the surface.

Leaving the market, Qian Gui again led Chen Wen to a teahouse in the county town that looked fairly famous.

They found a secluded spot by the window, sat down, ordered a pot of coarse tea and several snacks.

Inside the teahouse, people from all walks of life gathered together.

There were scholars engaging in lofty discussion, merchants negotiating business, and also idlers with nothing to do.

Chen Wen sipped tea quietly, while actually listening to all directions.

Not long after, he heard several people at the neighboring table, dressed like scholars, discussing current affairs.

"... I heard that Chao Baozheng of Dongxi Village recently opened another porridge shed to aid the nearby poor; truly a righteous man!"

One person praised.

"Chao the Heavenly King, generous and righteous, lives up to his reputation."

Another person interjected, then immediately lowered his voice.

"But… nowadays, someone like Chao Baozheng is likely to be suspected by the authorities as well."

"Hmph, what's so bad about being suspected?"

The third person spoke with a tone of dissatisfaction.

"It's still better than some people who mouth benevolence and righteousness on the surface, but behind the scenes collude with government clerks, specializing in taking on others' legal cases and bundling lawsuits, appearing thorough but actually… hehe."

Although not naming names, Chen Wen and Qian Gui both felt a stir in their hearts; this talk was probably about that person nicknamed 'Timely Rain', Song Jiang.

Sure enough, a few people at another table dressed as constables, half-drunk on wine, also began to talk and laugh loudly.

One of the short, dark-skinned men, his face glowing red, slapped his chest and said:

It's not me, Clerk Song, bragging—within Yuncheng County's jurisdiction, if there's any difficulty, just come find me! From the magistrate down to the six offices, I'll give them a bit of face!

Clerk Song's righteousness is as lofty as the clouds—who doesn't know that?

Everyone hurriedly flattered him.

That short, dark-skinned man was none other than Song Jiang.

Chen Wen's gaze swept over Song Jiang; relying on his Shi Yong, he could sense a rather complex aura about him.

It held a bit of positive popular esteem from his righteousness and generosity, the smooth official aura accumulated from navigating the bureaucracy, and furthermore a……hidden gloom, faintly pulled by some invisible force.

That gloom was like the Iron Crow Army's dark energy web he had sensed on the outskirts of the marsh.

The Iron Crow Army had indeed set its sights on this person and was exerting influence.

Leaving the teahouse, the sun was already slanting west.

The four then strolled seemingly at random through the city, observing the general situation of the county office, military camp, and the like, before following the outflow of people out of Yuncheng County.

On the way back to camp, Qian Gui summarized what he had seen and heard.

My lord, the situation in Yuncheng County and even the Liangshan area is now clear.

The government is incompetent, the bureaucracy corrupt, the people's livelihoods miserable, and complaints fill the roads.

Powerful factions rise up, like Chao Gai and the Ruan clan, winning popular support; Song Jiang, however, has an ambiguous relationship with the government, and behind him likely lurks an Iron Crow manipulator.

This is precisely the omen of 'the wind filling the tower before the mountain rain comes'.

Chen Wen nodded silently, his gaze sweeping over the barren fields and ragged-clad peasants on either side of the road.

This fallen world, this suppressed resentment of the people, is precisely the best fuel for that spark.

It is also the breeding ground where the Iron Crow Army weaves its script.

He slowly opened his mouth, his voice calm yet carrying a hint of chill:

'If the people do not fear death, how can death be used to frighten them?'

'When the government forces the people to rebel, the people have no choice but to rebel.'

'The Iron Crow Army seeks to exploit this momentum; we……will come to contend for this momentum.'

'Let us see what will ultimately gather by the banks of Liangshanpo: a blaze that consumes corruption, or……merely ghost fire that serves as another's bridal veil.'

Night gradually fell, shrouding this land that had endured much suffering in darkness.

Only the bonfire's light in the camp, deep in the reed marsh, stubbornly flickered with a small point of brightness.