Chapter 486: The Cowardly Cavalry of the Central Plains? What Is There to Fear?
When Tie Niaofei returned to the city in Hedong Circuit with Huang Yunfa’s subordinates, they were met with a peculiar scene.
Huang Yunfa sat in the center of the room, his face etched with terror, while Master Zhan Seng sat cross-legged before him. In his left hand, the monk held prayer beads, his right hand was raised to his chest, and his lips continuously murmured strange incantations, something like "Amitābha Buddha."
Tie Niaofei couldn't help but be astonished: "When I left last time, Master Zhan Seng was so dejected, claiming Huang Yunfa wouldn't listen to him. How did things change so much?"
But no matter, that wasn't the point.
One of Huang Yunfa's subordinates leaned in and whispered in his ear, "Master, I went with Tie Niaofei to see for myself. He truly has a shipment on the Yellow River—hundreds of top-quality flintlock rifles, every single one."
Huang Yunfa was overjoyed, his fear of the Puppet Heavenly Lord instantly dispelled by the stench of money. "Did you find anything suspicious?" he asked.
The subordinate whispered, "No suspicious points were found. The flintlock rifles have no ammunition. It truly seems as Tie Niaofei said: a group of runaway blacksmiths forged these firearms, and they don't even have a way to procure gunpowder and lead shot."
Huang Yunfa's heart swelled with ecstasy. How much money would he make if he sold this batch of goods to the Later Jin? More importantly, if this channel was established, continuously buying flintlock rifles from these runaway blacksmiths and reselling them to the Later Jin would bring in an endless stream of wealth—mountains of gold and silver wouldn't be able to stop it.
What could be more profitable than selling arms?
In an instant, his salt warrants no longer seemed appealing.
He turned to Tie Niaofei, a look of appreciation in his eyes. "Tie Niaofei, I like your goods very much."
Tie Niaofei chortled. "As long as you like them, Master. Now, regarding this batch of goods, what price will you offer?"
Huang Yunfa reached into his sleeve and pulled out his salt warrants, placing them in Tie Niaofei's hand. "You wanted salt, didn't you? This batch of salt is all yours! Furthermore, I can introduce you to my friends beyond the passes."
Tie Niaofei quickly feigned great delight. "Many thanks for your patronage, Master Huang."
Huang Yunfa asked, "Where shall we make the exchange?"
Tie Niaofei started, "On the river—"
"No," Huang Yunfa immediately cut him off. "We can't exchange on the river. It's too unsafe. I suggest this: Zhouqing Village, six li west of Dayu Crossing."
Tie Niaofei instantly understood. Huang Yunfa was protected by Later Jin cavalry, so he was more confident in his land-based combat capabilities and unwilling to conduct the transaction on the river.
What a pity!
Three large cannon ships had been sent from Qichuan Ferry, intending to blast Huang Yunfa into the Yellow River to feed the monstrous fish. But this fellow was so cautious, it seemed those three cannon ships would be useless.
At this point, he had to humor him. Tie Niaofei reluctantly said, "Very well, Zhouqing Village it is for the exchange."
With the deal settled, Tie Niaofei had to leave the city again to "arrange the exchange." This meant he would lose surveillance of Huang Yunfa, so he shot a quick glance at Master Zhan Seng. The monk's brows were lowered, making it seem as if he saw nothing, but he swiftly raised an eyebrow in response.
Only then did Tie Niaofei feel relieved and bold enough to turn and walk out.
After leaving the Salt Administration's residence and passing through a narrow alley, a half-man-high puppet figure suddenly emerged from it.
Tie Niaofei exclaimed, "Ah, greetings, Heavenly Lord!"
The Puppet Heavenly Lord chuckled with a mechanical clatter, wasting no words.
Tie Niaofei's subordinates understood. They quickly produced a black bag, and the Puppet Heavenly Lord slipped inside. The group hurried out of the city and soon returned to Xiao Lake, where Xing Honglang, Gao Chuwu, Zao Ying, Lao Nanfeng, and others had been waiting for a long time. After Tie Niaofei recounted the events, everyone began to chuckle. "Excellent, Zhouqing Village! We'll prepare a grand ambush there and let Huang Yunfa and the Later Jin feel our 'hospitality' properly."
Two days later.
Zhouqing Village.
Zhouqing Village was a typical village on a plain, with flat and open land stretching as far as the eye could see.
In good years, the plains here would be covered with vast fields of crops, but now, in a year of severe drought, there were no crops, only vast stretches of abandoned, dried-up fields.
It was an excellent place for a wild cavalry charge.
Huang Yunfa chose this place for the exchange precisely because of its flatness.
Flat terrain was advantageous for cavalry operations and disadvantageous for ambushes.
Huang Yunfa’s subordinates drove several large carts into Zhouqing Village.
The Later Jin cavalry were extremely cautious. Before entering the village, they first sent out scouts who thoroughly scoured the surrounding few li, ensuring there were no ambushes. Only then did Huang Yunfa's main party slowly approach.
Tie Niaofei, with dozens of his men, had been waiting there for a long time. On the carts before them, flintlock rifles were piled high.
Huang Yunfa didn't approach immediately. Instead, he sent subordinates forward to verify the goods first, ensuring the flintlock rifles were authentic. Only then did he happily wave his hand. "Excellent, we'll take these goods."
Tie Niaofei smiled. "Since that's settled, I'll take my leave. I'll take the salt warrants you gave me, go collect some salt, and make a profit. Then I'll return to Master Huang, and you can take me to do business beyond the passes."
Huang Yunfa waved a dismissive hand. "Of course, of course!"
Tie Niaofei left behind over two hundred flintlock rifles and strode away.
Huang Yunfa remained cautious until Tie Niaofei was truly out of sight. Then he smiled faintly. "It seems this fellow wasn't playing any tricks; he really was selling me flintlock rifles. Hehehe, this is a huge profit! Lads, start moving the goods immediately."
His subordinates immediately surged forward, moving the more than two hundred flintlock rifles onto their carts.
As they were moving them, a subordinate suddenly pulled a piece of paper from the pile of flintlock rifles, held it high, and exclaimed in surprise, "Oh? There's a piece of paper inside a flintlock rifle. It has writing on it, but I can't read it."
Huang Yunfa was greatly surprised. "Let me see it."
He took the paper and fixed his gaze on it. It read: "Your time has come."
A sharp gasp escaped him.
Huang Yunfa was startled. "A trap?"
Just then, the expressions of the Later Jin cavalrymen suddenly changed. They heard the familiar sound of hooves, and then the thundering sound of a large number of warhorses galloping.
"Cavalry is coming, from three directions!"
A Later Jin soldier who could speak Han Chinese yelled loudly.
Huang Yunfa was startled once more. He saw a hundred cavalrymen approaching from each of the east, west, and north directions. They fanned out, as if forming a massive net, blocking all three directions, leaving only the south open.
And to the south lay the turbulent Yellow River!
Huang Yunfa cursed, "Damn it! This Tie Niaofei, he schemed to trap me! Where did these cavalrymen come from? How could a mere salt smuggler have so many cavalry?"
A subordinate cried out, "Perhaps it's the government! The authorities must have found out about us supplying goods to those beyond the passes, and now they want to deal with us."
Huang Yunfa snapped, "Damn it! Find a way to break through!"
The Later Jin soldier who spoke Han Chinese suddenly chuckled. "These cowardly Central Plains cavalry, what is there to fear? One of us can take on ten of them! Mr. Huang, stick close to us. We'll pick a direction and punch right through their encirclement."
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