Novels online

Chapter 868: That's a Secret

The head courtesan from the News Department had just arrived by boat at the Xiaolangdi Naval Base.

She was exceptionally bold! Having just finished reporting on the Manchu invasion, she was now on the front lines in Henan, combating the bandits.

After all, most women in brothels came from impoverished families, having experienced various misfortunes in their youth. Many of them had known the horrors of war, famine, and even cannibalism since childhood.

This head courtesan was no different. Her father had died of illness when she was young, leaving her mother a widow.

A widow with a daughter was truly a classic target for exploitation.

Her father's relatives immediately descended upon them, seizing their meager property.

The mother and daughter were left homeless. When they encountered bandits, her mother was devoured like livestock. Because the girl had been delicate and pretty since childhood, still worth a few coins, the bandits sold her to a human trafficker.

After several transfers, she eventually ended up in a brothel.

From a young age, she endured beatings and verbal abuse, diligently studying music, chess, calligraphy, and painting. She sold her art, not her body, as the madam waited for her reputation to soar before selling her off to a high-ranking official or noble as a concubine. This was her predetermined fate.

She had resigned herself to her destiny.

It was then that the Heavenly Lord arrived!

She was ransomed by the people of Gao Family Village, regaining her freedom and civilian status.

Now, she had transformed into a "disciple of the Heavenly Lord"—a truly dramatic turn of events in her life.

She was exceptionally bold! Having witnessed her own mother devoured, what else was there to fear?

As soon as the large ship reached the Xiaolangdi Naval Base, she instructed the Special Operations Team soldiers to set up their cameras, aiming them at the warships lined up along the dock, recording them row by row.

As she recorded, she began narrating: "Everyone, please look! This is Gao Family Village's Xiaolangdi Naval Base, where several gunboats and flatbed cargo ships are docked. As for the exact number of gunboats, that's a military secret, so I can't elaborate here... Close-up shots are also forbidden; we can only observe from a distance."

She was enjoying her filming when she noticed a ship at the naval base's dock being loaded with a large amount of supplies.

"Sail over there, film that ship," the head courtesan directed, pointing. The Special Operations Team soldiers piloting the boat immediately rowed closer, aiming the camera at the cargo vessel. "Everyone, look! Here's a cargo ship being loaded with goods. It seems a large quantity of grain is being sold to other..."

Just as she was recording this, a man resembling a merchant leaped out from the cargo ship, waving his hands vigorously at her. "No recording, no recording! You can't record this ship; it must not be broadcast."

The head courtesan called out from a distance, "Oh? Sir, why can't it be recorded?"

The merchant replied, "Come closer to the shore, and I'll explain."

A moment later, the boat pulled alongside the dock.

The merchant walked up to the head courtesan and bowed. "Greetings, young lady. I am Jiang Cheng, an instructor from the Xiaolangdi militia detachment."

The head courtesan quickly introduced herself as well. "I'm Zhou Daya, a reporter from the News Department."

"Zhou Daya?" Jiang Cheng paused, bewildered. Such a beautiful young woman, with an air of refined elegance and obvious capability, calling herself Zhou Daya?

The head courtesan explained, "This is the only true name I possess. If you prefer charming, fabricated names, Sir, I have a whole host of them: 'Flowing Sleeve Blossom,' 'Willow's Graceful Sway,' and the like. But I do not wish to use those."

Jiang Cheng paused for a moment, then immediately understood. Clasping his hands in a respectful bow, he said, "Daya is an excellent name indeed."

The head courtesan asked, "Sir, why won't you let me film this ship? It only carries ordinary goods, doesn't it? What is there that cannot be filmed?"

Jiang Cheng immediately lowered his voice. "Though the cargo on this ship is ordinary, the recipient is anything but."

The head courtesan instantly understood. "A military secret, then?"

"Precisely!" Jiang Cheng whispered. "Even though you are a disciple of the Heavenly Lord, it's best not to delve too deeply into this cargo ship's affairs..."

"Indeed!" One of the Heavenly Lord's avatars suddenly appeared on the shore, chuckling. "Heh, it's best not to report on this matter too hastily."

"Ah, the Heavenly Lord has arrived!" Jiang Cheng quickly bowed.

The head courtesan, however, said, "Ah, Teacher has arrived!"

The distinction in their addresses instantly underscored the head courtesan's elevated status as a disciple of the Heavenly Lord. To be able to address the Heavenly Lord differently from ordinary people—Jiang Cheng was consumed by envy.

Li Daoxuan explained, "The cargo on this ship is destined for the bandit leader Lao Huihui."

The head courtesan's heart skipped a beat upon hearing this. "Oh? That notorious bandit, Lao Huihui?"

"Exactly, the Border Army Iron Cavalry," Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Not light cavalry, but true iron cavalry—a fierce and formidable force. They're primarily composed of Hui people, with a mix of surrendered barbarians and Han soldiers. Jiang Cheng's mission is to establish contact with Lao Huihui using this grain. In the future, we must strive to win over this Border Army Iron Cavalry unit."

The head courtesan finally understood. "I see. In that case, it truly is a secret that cannot be reported. If it became common knowledge, it wouldn't just cause trouble for Gao Family Village, but for Lao Huihui as well. Other bandits might even attack him."

"Precisely," Li Daoxuan smiled. "However, while it can't be broadcast, that doesn't mean this news can't be recorded."

The head courtesan uttered, "Oh?"

Jiang Cheng also chimed in, "What? Why record it if it's not going to be reported?"

Li Daoxuan chuckled, "Record it for internal documentation! For important events like this, having video footage preserved could be incredibly significant in the future. Perhaps decades, even centuries from now, when the day comes that these videos can be made public, people will look back at these precious old recordings and gain a unique perspective."

The head courtesan understood. "Teacher, please allow your student to accompany Instructor Jiang to meet Lao Huihui and record this precious moment for posterity."

"It will be very dangerous," Li Daoxuan cautioned with a smile. "That's a border army. You've seen Lao Nanfeng's methods, haven't you? The border army kills without a shred of emotion, like butchering livestock."

The head courtesan declared, "I'm not afraid!"

"Excellent! That's the spirit of a true journalist," Li Daoxuan praised. "Go ahead. The destination for this trip is indeed dangerous, so I'll accompany you all."

The head courtesan was overjoyed. "Thank you, Teacher!"

With the Heavenly Lord's assistance, the next steps became much simpler.

She changed into a subtle, unassuming set of men's clothing, even coiling her hair and tucking it into a cap. While her demeanor still carried a hint of softness, as long as people didn't stare directly at her face, it would be difficult to tell she was a woman.

The Special Operations Team members surrounded Li Daoxuan and her, forming a large contingent of soldiers to protect them.

Jiang Cheng loaded the cargo ship with a full complement of grain. He also brought along a squad of militia soldiers. Including one of the Heavenly Lord's avatars and the head courtesan's Special Operations Team, a total of fifty people boarded the ship. Only then did they depart from the Xiaolangdi Naval Base, sailing downstream along the Yellow River.

Before long, Wenxian appeared on the north bank of the river.

Li Daoxuan smiled, introducing to the head courtesan, "Look, Wenxian! That's the area under Chen Yuanbo's responsibility, and it's also Gao Family Village's territory."