Chapter 869: It's a Reward For You
Seeing Wen County, Zhou Daya was overjoyed. "Wen County is incredibly far from Gao Family Village, and there's no direct train there. You have to travel by boat to reach it, so most of our villagers have never been here. Many don't even know what it's like. If I film the situation here and take it back, it will definitely make for excellent news!"
Li Daoxuan chuckled. "Alright, then, let's dock here for a while."
The cargo ship slowly approached the pier in Wen County.
This was an ancient ferry crossing, named Ancient Cypress Ferry. Across the Yellow River lay Solitary Cypress Ferry in Xingyang, Henan. The names differed by only a single character, but one stood north of the Yellow River, the other to its south.
The two crossings faced each other across the river.
They boasted a history of two millennia, having witnessed the rivalry between Chu and Han, the wars of the Three Kingdoms, and the struggles of the Sui and Tang dynasties.
From a distance, Zhou Daya noticed that Solitary Cypress Ferry on the south bank of the Yellow River remained as dilapidated as ever. However, Ancient Cypress Ferry on the north bank, near Wen County, had been renovated and looked brand new.
It was like a pair of twins: one raised by poor parents, the other adopted into a wealthy family.
Before the ship even docked, Zhou Daya could see a multitude of diverse cargo vessels lining the shore. A large market bustled by the pier, where numerous merchants hawked their wares.
Zhou Daya quickly recorded everything.
"Our Gao Family Village produces enormous quantities of grain, cotton cloth, and ironware. Much of it arrives here by cargo ship and changes hands. Then, other middlemen transport it downstream along the Yellow River for sale."
Jiang Cheng continued, "I used to do this kind of work, but now I've washed my hands of it. I'm focused solely on assisting Instructor Bai in managing the Xiaolangdi Militia."
Zhou Daya remarked, "I see! I'd always wondered how Gao Family Village could possibly use up the massive amounts of cotton cloth produced by those incredible textile machines. So, it's sold downriver!"
Jiang Cheng laughed. "Many in our village don't know this! Now that you've recorded it, once it airs on Gaojia News, everyone will understand."
Zhou Daya happily filmed videos there for a while.
Li Daoxuan, meanwhile, took the opportunity to observe the development of Ancient Cypress Ferry. Chen Yuanbo had managed this small Wen County admirably, with the pier's commercial district thriving.
After this brief interlude, the cargo ship continued its journey, crossing the Yellow River to the south bank's Solitary Cypress Ferry.
Upon arrival, an immediate sense of decay and desolation pervaded the air.
The entire Solitary Cypress Ferry was eerily deserted, not a soul in sight, as if haunted.
Zhou Daya exclaimed in surprise, "It's only separated by a single Yellow River! How can the difference be so stark?"
Jiang Cheng lowered his voice. "This area belongs to Xingyang, and recently, numerous rebel factions have been active near Xingyang..."
Zhou Daya asked curiously, "Numerous? How many, exactly?"
Jiang Cheng whispered, "Seventy-two bandit camps, large and small, numbering two to three hundred thousand."
Though generally brave, Zhou Daya flinched at the figure of two to three hundred thousand.
"Wouldn't it be very dangerous for us to go ashore at Solitary Cypress Ferry?"
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Yes, extremely dangerous, miss, you..."
He hesitated, turning to the manifest Heavenly Lord beside him for help.
Li Daoxuan smiled. "We agreed to wait by the river for Lao Huihui, didn't we?"
Jiang Cheng nodded. "Yes, I arranged to meet him on the riverbank at Solitary Cypress Ferry."
"That settles it," Li Daoxuan said, turning to Zhou Daya. "Don't leave the ship!"
Zhou Daya pouted slightly. "With Teacher here, I'm not afraid."
Li Daoxuan responded with a smile, "It's not about whether you're afraid or not; it's about whether it's necessary. Just zoom in and focus. Don't put yourself in harm's way unnecessarily. My guiding principle for everyone in Gao Family Village, regardless of gender, is the same: if we can avoid risk, we should; if we can avoid injury, we should. Don't take pointless risks just to prove your courage."
Zhou Daya obediently listened, propping her camera on the bow of the ship.
Jiang Cheng and Li Daoxuan, accompanied by thirty militia soldiers, disembarked. They lingered near Solitary Cypress Ferry for only a short while before a thundering sound of hooves echoed, and a large contingent of cavalry approached. Leading them was none other than Lao Huihui.
It seemed Lao Huihui had stationed scouts near the pier. His hidden scouts, spotting "Instructor Bai's ship" from a distance, had then led the main cavalry force out.
The vast company of cavalry surged forward, an truly intimidating sight. As they drew close, Jiang Cheng and the thirty militia soldiers shuddered, fearing Lao Huihui's cavalry would charge them directly.
If they had, even a desperate barrage from their Chassepot Rifles wouldn't have halted the thundering cavalry.
Fortunately, Lao Huihui wasn't a madman!
He began slowing his pace about ten meters from the group, and by the time he reached them, his warhorse had come to a perfect stop.
Lao Huihui dismounted, landing with a solid thud and standing steadily before everyone.
Only up close could his physique and appearance be clearly discerned.
He was a man somewhere between forty and fifty years old, clad in armor, though it was covered by a layer of Hui ethnic clothing. His face bore the weathered marks of hardship.
"You're Instructor Bai's people, aren't you?" Lao Huihui asked gravely. "Is the grain you promised me on that ship behind you?"
Jiang Cheng, overwhelmed by his aura, swallowed hard, unable to respond immediately.
Li Daoxuan, however, replied with a smile, "Yes!"
Lao Huihui cast a suspicious glance at the large vessel. The grain on board was covered by a tarp, so he couldn't see inside, leaving a hint of wariness in his eyes.
Li Daoxuan called out, "Uncover the tarp. Let Lao Huihui see."
The special operations soldiers remaining on the ship quickly pulled back the tarp.
The fully laden hold of grain was instantly revealed.
Lao Huihui himself remained impassive, but his subordinates behind him gasped in unison.
"So much grain!"
"Excellent."
"It's so hard to find food these days."
Lao Huihui raised a hand, and his subordinates immediately fell silent, not daring to utter another word.
He turned to Li Daoxuan and asked in a deep voice, "Why would you give me this grain for free? Instructor Bai isn't from Henan; I couldn't burn his ancestral home. No one in this world treats me well without a reason, so I want to know: what kind of deal is this? What must I give in return?"
Li Daoxuan replied, "It's a reward for you. In these past few years of rebellion, you haven't looted the common people, only corrupt officials and wealthy families. Your soldiers are disciplined, and that deserves encouragement."
Lao Huihui scoffed. "Oh, so it's a reward for me! Interesting! And by what right do you bestow such a reward?"
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