Chapter 353: Moving by Night

The Xu family had always been a great and powerful house, and having thrown their weight around for so long, they naturally paid it no mind. As a result, within a month they hadn't sold a single piece of ironware. The hired escorts and bodyguards were easily scattered and killed by masked "horse bandits." Next, the Xu family brought in official constables as guards, who were likewise beaten badly by the "horse bandits" and suffered heavy losses. The Xu family had great face, and even called in government troops. When the government troops met the same fate, the Xu family grew afraid.

It is said that a few people died inside the Xu family compound that year. Afterward, the Xu family began flying Kong Family Village's banner of recognition on their own cart teams. Any clever person could see the meaning clearly. The Xu family had a vast business, a large estate, and many mouths to feed, but they were merchants. Kong Family Village's scale was far smaller than the Xu family's, but they were desperate men willing to throw away their lives. Compared this way, the Xu family had no choice but to yield. They were in it to make money, not to fight over a moment of pride.

Now, a Xu family cart team could be seen again. There were twelve large carts in total, each pulled by a pair of horses. At the front, two flagpoles stood on the shaft of the lead cart—one flying the Xu family banner, the other the Kong Family Village banner.

The pedestrians on the road and the farmers by its side didn't even spare it a glance. It was nothing new. And what were twelve large carts, anyway? It was common to see dozens moving together at once.

"Old Ma, where exactly are we taking all this stuff?" the driver of the second cart in the team shouted out to ask.

The Xu family had specialized in coal and iron for many years. Quite a few people on the north bank of the Yellow River made their living off the Xu family, and driving carts to haul goods was one of those trades. Get two large draft animals, get a big cart, and haul the Xu family's ironware to earn some transport fees—it was far more comfortable than farming.

For any cart team over ten vehicles, the Xu family would always send one of their own carts to lead as the headman. The delivery and collection of payment were all handled by this lead man. As for the rest, they were all temporary hires, though most of them had done the work long enough to be old hands at it.

The man at the head was surnamed Ma, nearly fifty now, dark-complexioned and his face full of wrinkles. He had a slight disability in one leg, said to be from his days in the coal pits. This Old Ma, just five years ago, had been nothing more than a servant in charge of the firewood shed, supporting a whole family of several mouths on his own, living a very tight, pinched life.

No one knew what stroke of fortune he'd had, but suddenly he'd become a headman leading cart teams. A headman could find benefits here and there, inside and out, and since he was the one hiring carts and choosing men, the drivers usually curried favor with him. His life now was far more comfortable than before. Most men who became headmen had some connections and backing within the Xu family, and their words and actions were wildly arrogant. But this Old Ma was always sullen and didn't say much. Yet he never skimmed when paying transport fees and never extorted any perks, so everyone was happy to work under him.

A few days ago, this Old Ma had suddenly gone out calling for carts and hired eleven. Everyone assumed they'd head to the ironworks or coal pits to load up first. They never expected to just head outward like this. Along the way, he bought quite a lot of flatbread and pickled vegetables, and surprisingly even bought things like iron pots, and even live chickens and sheep. It left everyone utterly baffled. But he'd paid half the transport fees up front, and Old Ma had never shortchanged anyone in his dealings, so everyone just followed along.

The further they went, the more confused everyone became. Normally, a cart team on the move would calculate the hours, stopping before dark to lodge and rest, setting out again at dawn. Old Ma was steady and reliable in his work, and always arranged these things well. But this time, he simply wouldn't stop. They even rested out in the open wilds. Fortunately, everyone had brought fodder on their carts, so the animals didn't go hungry, but each man felt something was off.

When they asked again, this Old Ma paid out the rest of the transport fees as well, and made it clear: once this job was done, he'd pay double the transport fees, and he'd cover all the fodder costs too.

Earning a clean, extra profit for nothing naturally made everyone happy, but the whole affair was ultimately bizarre. With each passing day, someone couldn't help but ask again.

"What's there to ask? You're making all this extra money for nothing, hauling such light cargo—how can there still be so many questions?" Headman Ma said bluntly, his voice gruff.

"Old Ma, we trust the kind of man you are, but everything about this is off. With all the years of friendship between us, don't you go leading us into a bandits' den," the man asking from behind said with a grin.

As soon as he said this, the men on the third and fourth carts behind could hear, and someone laughed and shouted, "Our broken-down old carts and Old Ma here—could we even attract bandits? The bandits would have to find us worth their while! Look at what's loaded up there!"

Dry rations, pickled vegetables, pots and stoves, plus live chickens and sheep—mounted brigands truly wouldn't give such things a second glance.

"You rascal, take a look at the two flags flying on the lead cart. With Old Tiger Kong and the Xu family here, what blind fool would dare block the road? Tired of living long?" another man called out with a laugh.

At that, the man who'd asked the question laughed at himself and shook his head. "That is true..."

He'd only gotten halfway through when they heard the sound of hoofbeats and saw a squad of over a dozen riders gallop past the cart team. Most of the riders were young, their men strong and horses sturdy, their armor and weapons fine—a truly imposing sight.

"Tsk, tsk, still the promising men of Kong Family Village!" a driver exclaimed in admiration.

They'd barely finished praising them when the dozen riders had already stopped, blocking the road sideways. The drivers were all taken aback, but seeing that Old Ma on the lead cart was still moving forward, everyone simply followed.

Looking left and right, there wasn't a single house around, nor any other travelers or merchants on the road. What if the other party really were bandits? But then they looked again at the two flags flying on the lead cart, and their minds settled quite a bit. Who would dare offend the Xu family? Who would dare offend Old Tiger Kong? Perhaps that good fellow surnamed Zhao in the prefectural city could, but he was separated by a Yellow River, and surely wouldn't come over to this side...

Just as they were feeling uneasy, they saw those dozen or so riders pull out hoods and cover their heads. Something was wrong! The moment the men realized it, they heard a clamor from both sides of the official road. From the ditches and the grass, a crowd of masked men wielding weapons suddenly emerged—several dozen on each side—closing in to surround the official road.

Damn it all! This Old Ma looked simple and honest, but his belly was full of treachery. We've got no grudge or grievance with him, so why's he led us all straight into a bandits' den?!

But looking over at Old Ma, something seemed off with him too—he looked frozen with terror, too scared to move. One driver, bolder than the rest, pointed tremblingly at the banner of recognition up front and said, "Good heroes, sirs, we're flying the Kong family flag..."

"Shut your mouth! Get off the cart!" These brigands were all very silent; only one man at the front barked out orders.

With so many long spears pressing in on them, who dared say no? They watched as Old Ma up ahead obediently climbed down from his cart, his whole body trembling.

Could it be that Old Ma wasn't an accomplice? No one had time to think it through. Staying alive was what mattered. They all hurriedly dismounted and, at the "bandits'" command, clasped their hands behind their heads and crouched on the ground.

This gang of brigands had nerve, completely ignoring the Kong family's banner of recognition. Everyone knew that in the past, any blind fool of a bandit who ignored that banner had been wiped out clean afterward, their heads hung on wooden stakes and displayed by the roadside for a long time. These "brigands" here now surely wouldn't meet a good end either.

The brigands truly were plundering. They bound all the drivers tightly, stuffed their mouths, and then simply took the carts, goods and all, away with them.

A dozen or so men were left trussed up like pigs and dumped by the roadside, each one utterly despairing. Once it got dark, wouldn't they just become meat in the wolves' mouths?

That group drove the carts far away. About another half a shichen passed, and the sun was nearly setting when someone finally appeared on the road again.

This person was also traveling alone on horseback, carrying a bundle on his back and a saber at his side, looking just like an ordinary traveling merchant. Seeing the dozen or so drivers by the roadside, barely hidden at all, this merchant kindly dismounted to help, untying everyone's ropes.

"... Old Ma, you deserve to die a thousand cuts! What did you pull this stunt for? I've lost the tools of my trade, and nearly lost my life too!" The moment the rag was pulled from his mouth, one driver started cursing furiously.

"Gentlemen, it's getting dark. You'd best find a place to lodge. You can't spend the night out in this wilderness. I'll be on my way first!" The merchant was straightforward in his actions; after saving them, he simply left.

Everyone sent him off with a thousand thanks and ten thousand gratitudes, then surrounded Old Ma, each one cursing him out and ready to roll up their sleeves and get physical.

Old Ma, silent, took a small bundle from his waist. When he unwrapped it, everyone fell quiet. Inside the bundle was actually ready silver—by the look of its weight, at least a hundred taels. Old Ma had been carrying nearly ten catties of it at his waist the whole time?

"Every man gets ten taels. If it's not enough, I'll make up the difference once we're back, I swear," Old Ma said in a muffled voice.

Everyone was instantly stunned. With these ten taels of silver, you could almost buy a horse and half a cart. What on earth was Old Ma trying to do? This left them even more baffled.

"I won't cheat anyone. Come with me and find a place nearby to stay first. I'll give everyone an explanation in the end," Old Ma said, very earnestly.

The silver was in hand, and he'd even said there'd be more compensation afterward. A quick mental calculation told them they might even come out a little ahead. If they could trade up to a new cart and two strong horses, then this trip would have been pretty damn good.

The cursing stopped. Each man, sullen and silent, followed Old Ma back the way they'd come. With so much ready silver in hand, they wondered if that nearest cart inn had any good wine... and if there might be women too...

These cart drivers didn't notice the two men in the nearby woods. The two were masked, holding pudao sabers at the ready, their eyes fixed on the official road. If the drivers hadn't left together with Old Ma, the two of them were to kill every driver except Old Ma.

According to Liu Yong's intent, all these drivers were to be silenced. But Liang San had pleaded for mercy, saying that the Eldest Miss had not easily gathered these hands, and the death of even one would be a pity. Of course, Liang San was only pleading on behalf of that Old Ma.

After traveling several li, the Zhao Family Camp retainers who had seized the carts rendezvoused with the other soldiers who had been waiting ahead of them. The armor and heavy gear they had been carrying on their backs were all placed onto the carts. Now they could advance with a light load.

"Master Jin, please bear with it. All these things were bought on the spot. There are too many unreliable people on the Xu family side—if we'd really arranged it through them, I was afraid word would leak," Liang San said. His words were apologetic, but his tone carried a hint of indifference.

Zhao Jin knew that his way of doing things, never mind outsiders, even his own brothers thought was excessive. But he did it precisely to ensure no mishaps occurred.

There were plenty of men who knew how to drive carts, so the march wasn't delayed. With the large carts to carry the armor and weapons, their pace also quickened considerably. The Zhao Family Camp had set forward scouts at varying distances ahead, and they constantly traveled back and forth to report. In a place like this, few people traveled by night, but the moment anyone appeared, Zhao Jin's side would hide. At first, this wasted a great deal of time, but as the night deepened, there was basically no need to hide anymore.