Chapter 59

At the city gate, two long lines formed: one for merchant caravans entering the city, the other for ordinary townspeople.
There was a fee to enter the city. Ordinary people paid two wen per person, but the caravan rate was arbitrary, entirely up to the guards' moods.
Finally it was Mu Wanqing's turn. The guards stopped them. "Who are you? What's your business? Hand over your travel pass."
Shen Yong had prepared in advance; he took out a travel pass and handed it over. "We're the Guo family's caravan from Jiangnan, here to do business."
The guard's gaze fell on the long line of people and crates, a glint of greed in his eyes. "What have you brought?"
"Just tea and cloth." Shen Yong kept his tone low-key.
These were all good goods, the guard waved a hand. "Open the crates for inspection."
They handled the inspection roughly, rifling through the cargo. Shen Yong frowned slightly but did not lose his temper; instead he handed over a silver coin. The guard weighed it in his hand, his face showing displeasure.
Was that not enough?
Shen Yong cursed inwardly, what a gatekeeper, but they hadn't even entered the city yet; he didn't want to pick a fight with the guards.
This was someone else's turf; unless absolutely necessary, they couldn't make trouble.
They were here to make money!
He slipped two more silver coins across, and only then did the guard tuck them away. "Lighten your touch," he ordered.
The other guards restrained themselves noticeably. Mu Wanqing took it all in and began to form a plan in her mind.
When the curtain was lifted, Mu Wanqing's eyes widened instantly; she put on a timid, frightened look.
The guard sized her up: rosy lips, white teeth, delicate brows and clear eyes, dressed in plain brocade, looking every bit like a well-off merchant's young master.
"Who is this?"
Shen Yong smiled in a conciliatory way. "My younger brother. I brought him out to see the world, it's best to learn business early."
"Greetings, sir." Mu Wanqing greeted in a small voice, extremely shy.
The guard, having seen all kinds of people, paid her no special mind. He produced a token and handed it to Shen Yong. "This is the merchants' pass, you need it to enter the market. Also, your party will be staying at the Yuelai Inn."
Shen Yong had never heard of gate guards soliciting customers; it struck him as odd. "There's only one inn in the city?"
The guard glared at him gruffly. "Go where you're told to stay. No more questions, do you want to get into the city or not?"
"Yes, yes, yes." Shen Yong decided to go in first and deal with it later.
The guard called out to one of his men. "Xiao Liuzi, take them to the Yuelai Inn."
Xiao Liuzi answered cheerfully, as if he'd been given some grand favor.
Shen Yong felt a little uneasy. "Young master... I have a bad feeling about this."
Mu Wanqing also found it odd. "Go and talk to that Xiao Liuzi, see what you can find out."
"All right." Shen Yong immediately went up to Xiao Liuzi and, with practiced small talk, drew information out of him. Xiao Liuzi was straightforward and before long let slip everything he knew.
After a while Shen Yong returned with a complicated look. "They say the Yuelai Inn belongs to the Ji family. The head of the Ji family is the commander of the Ganzhou garrison. If that's true, the Ji family's reach is quite long, could that really be?"
The Du family ran the Central Command, overseeing sixteen garrison commanders, and beneath them were the thousand- and hundred-household units.
To put it simply: the Central Command was like the group's commander-in-chief, and each garrison commander was like a divisional general.
Generally, each household had its own enterprises, but they wouldn't blatantly use public office for private gain like that, he found it hard to believe.
Mingled in the crowd, Mu Zicheng came over. "Sister, why don't we skip staying there and find our own lodgings?"
This time Mu Wanqing had brought two elder brothers. After the past few days' experience, Mu Zicheng had grown much more capable; he knew the caravan folk well and could be of help.
As for Mu Ziang, he was purely brought along to see the world.
Mu Wanqing frowned slightly. "This is the Ji family's territory; they have plenty of informants. Let's not act rashly, wait and see first."
Their aim was to make money quietly, not to make enemies everywhere.
"Fine."
Ganzhou City was large but run-down: the blue-brick streets were rutted and uneven, flanked by low, dilapidated houses side by side, moss-streaked walls telling of a long history.
After walking a while the view opened up and the buildings grew finer, this was a bustling commercial street.
At the crossroads Mu Wanqing glanced around. To the left were row upon row of inns; to the right... the Hundred Flowers Tower, the Ten Thousand Flowers Pavilion? What kind of place was that, an entire street of pleasure houses?
The party stopped in front of the Yuelai Inn. The inn was nicely decorated, antique in style and rather exquisite.
The inn clerk greeted them warmly. "Xiao Liuzi, what are you doing bringing people here?"
Xiao Liuzi pointed to Shen Yong and the others. "Clerk, Brother Wu told me to bring them."
The clerk gave them a quick once-over, smiling broadly as he nodded. "All right, I know. You can go back now."
He efficiently ushered them in, talking all the while. "Gentlefolk, Ganzhou has a dozen or so inns, and our Yuelai Inn is the best. Our food and rooms are top-notch. Right now it's the year's biggest trade fair; merchants from all over are pouring in, and our inn is fully booked..."
He was boosting their reputation, boasting about how busy business was.
Shen Yong stopped in his tracks and turned to leave. "Why didn't you say that sooner? We're leaving now."
The clerk was stunned, his words hadn't even finished; why were these guests so blunt? "No, no, no, I mean, yes, we're full, but we've reserved two of our best courtyards for the most distinguished guests."
Shen Yong gave the clerk a strange look, as if to say he couldn't be trusted. "Then I'll take one of those courtyards."
The clerk almost lost his composure and dared not push his luck. "You have so much cargo, we can store it in our warehouse, guaranteed safe. You might not know, but this inn is run by the garrison commander; whatever happens, they can sort it out."
"No." Shen Yong refused flatly. He wasn't foolish enough to put his goods in someone else's warehouse.
"Sir..." the clerk tried one more time.
Mu Wanqing, walking behind, cleared her throat. "I'll take a hot bath, please arrange it."
Her tone allowed no argument; the clerk dared not say more. "Yes, ma'am."
The courtyard was large, with a towering tree at its center; its leaves had all fallen, leaving it bare.
There were three main rooms: one for Mu Wanqing, one for the Mu brothers and Shen Yong, and the main hall for receiving guests.
The retainers squeezed into the west wing; half the goods were placed in the east wing, and the rest, not yet unloaded, were left in the courtyard.
The room was fitted with a layer of fire-wall, so it was pleasantly warm inside. The pearwood furniture was smooth and elegant, and there was even a private washroom.
Steam rose from the hot water as Mu Wanqing waved the maid away and took a long, hot bath. She felt the tension melt from her whole body.
The inn had been lavishly refurbished with no expense spared, designed specifically to cater to extremely wealthy merchants.
She walked into the main room where everyone had gathered to discuss matters.
When they saw her enter, everyone stood. Mu Ziang guided her to a seat while Mu Zicheng handed her a bowl of milk. “Sister, this is sheep's milk. Try it, I just warmed it up.”
“Provided by the inn?” Mu Wanqing took a sip and frowned slightly; the gamey flavor was a little strong.
“Simmer it with some almonds for a while and it takes the gamey taste away.”
Mu Zicheng didn't mind the scent himself, but his sister was delicate and particular. He carried the milk to a small red brazier in the corner to work on it.
Mu Ziang, however, had other things on his mind. “Sister, the waiters are looking at us like we've got gold in our pockets. It makes me uneasy.”
Mu Wanqing had noticed it too. She tapped the table lightly with her right hand. “All right, let's split into two shifts. Take turns guarding the gate and make sure the cargo stays safe.”
“Fine.”
“Send someone out to gather information. Know your enemy and you will win every battle.”
“Understood.”
Mu Zicheng returned with the milk and set it before Mu Wanqing. “There. Try it now, is it better?”
Mu Wanqing took a sip. Her eyes crinkled with pleasure. “No more gamey smell. It's delicious. Thank you, big brother, you really know your stuff.”
Her sweet smile made Mu Zicheng beam; his sister's approval warmed him.
Mu Ziang felt a pang of jealousy and rushed over to her. “Sister, I'm capable too. Everything you asked me to do, I've completed.”
Mu Zicheng rolled his eyes; his childish brother was exasperating.
Mu Wanqing laughed at their teasing. “Yes, yes, you're both capable.”
She stood. “Come on, let's go down to the main hall to eat.”
The main hall was full of people and the noise never let up.
The waiter led them up to the second floor. “I'm terribly sorry, the private rooms are all full. You'll have to make do with seating out here.”
The second floor was also a large hall; the private rooms were on the third floor.
Mu Wanqing sat by the window. The windows were tightly shut, so the light inside was dim. They had already hung large red lanterns, giving the room a warm, festive atmosphere.
“What's your signature dish?” someone asked.
The waiter answered proudly, “Roast whole lamb, mutton soup, and lamb pancakes.”
Mu Wanqing had lost her appetite just listening. “No vegetables?”
They'd been on the road and hadn't had a proper meal in days.
“Where would we get vegetables in the dead of winter?” the waiter replied, puzzled.
“Then bring the whole roast lamb.” Mu Wanqing randomly ordered a few dishes, not worried about waste, there were plenty of mouths to feed.
She touched little else and ate only a bit of the roast lamb. It had been roasted to perfection: golden-brown, crisp outside yet tender within.
But without any dipping sauce it felt like something was missing.
The others devoured their food with relish.
As the meal was winding down, a group of men came up the stairs. The leader, a rotund man adorned with gold and silver, wore clothes that glittered like molten metal.
When they arrived, the chatter in the room died down and the atmosphere turned serious.
The fat man glanced around as he entered. The waiter pointed toward the table by the window where Mu Wanqing and her companions sat, and the fat man led his men over.
“You new folks here today?”
Shen Yong hesitated for a moment, “Yes.”
The fat man slammed his palm down on the table and barked, “Newcomers, you owe protection fees.”
Protection fees! Mu Wanqing sat up straight, her eyes lighting up.
This could get interesting.
Shen Yong had suspected collusion for some time; now it seemed the whole point of the scheme was to shake people down for money. From the moment they entered the city they'd been treated like fat sheep.
“Excuse me, what exactly do you mean by 'protection fee'? On what grounds do you collect it? Who authorized this? And who are you?”
The fat man chuckled. “You stay at the Ji family's Yuelai Inn and so you are under the protection of the Ji family. You should pay the protection fee, it's only natural.”
The logic was absurd: robbery wrapped in a neat moral-looking cover.
“Is this Ji family's official policy? Does everyone pay?” Shen Yong couldn't believe the Ji household would brazenly extort money like this, after all, they were officials.
The fat man looked perfectly self-righteous. “Of course. Once you're on Ji family territory you follow their rules. We're not charging much: two hundred taels per wagon. You have fifty-one wagons, that's ten thousand two hundred taels.”
An outrageous demand. Everyone wanted to curse.
Shen Yong could no longer hold back. “Are you one of the Ji family's young masters?”
The fat man furrowed his brow. “No, I'm not, but I have a higher standing than the Ji family's young master.”
Shen Yong pondered for a moment, then suddenly exclaimed, “My apologies, it's you, the son of the Capital Commander's household, Young Master Du. Forgive my failure to recognize you.”
He bowed respectfully. The room fell silent and even the fat man froze.
Mu Wanqing spoke coolly. “That doesn't make sense. Why would the son of the Commander's household be collecting protection fees on behalf of the Ji family? He's supposed to be a superior, moreover, the Du family is renowned for loyalty and honor. They wouldn't stoop to such disgraceful tactics.”
She clapped her hands together and her eyes glittered. “Ah, I get it. You're impersonating Young Master Du to sully his reputation and drag his family through the mud. You're a spy! I'm going to report you!”
She casually piled on accusation after accusation, each one more serious than the last.
The fat man was stunned and reflexively denied it. “I'm not, you're lying, it's you…”
Shen Yong cut him off without changing expression. “This is happening right under the Ji family's nose. Does the Ji family know, or are they deliberately turning a blind eye?”
Mu Wanqing asked with guileless innocence, “Why would they pretend not to know?”
“Maybe… because they're not on good terms?” Shen Yong mimicked Mu Wanqing's tone, adding a slightly sarcastic edge that made him rather irritating.