Chapter 541: The Canal Transport Guild |
Chen Ji hurriedly and hastily departed the Trouble-Resolving Tower, only leaving behind the Inner Chancellor and Bai Long within the room.
The Inner Chancellor did not speak words. Bai Long also did not speak words.
Fengxian Hall's performing music sounds drifted and wavered over. Being performed was the palace court music "Blooming Flowers, Full Moon".
At this time outside the window set off fireworks. The red-colored rays of light exploded open within the Sky. Resembling a blossoming azalea flower in full bloom, illuminating the inside of the room for a fleeting instant.
In this fleeting instant, Bai Long separated by the folding screens saw, the Inner Chancellor was by no means leaning over his desk writing Cinnabar Rescripts. But instead was inexplicably gazing toward the outside the window.
The Inner Chancellor suddenly emotionally sighed: "Jiangzhou Wanzai's Nie Family firecrackers, are made somewhat worse than before. I remember at that moment of time they could still even make out multi-colored flowers. What a pity old Master Nie's son wasn't filial and obedient. He simply harbored hate taking his craftsmanship heading into his tomb. Everything universally must be groped and sought (explored) anew... who do you feel's fault is this matter?"
Bai Long did not know why the Inner Chancellor raised and touched upon this matter. Only cupping his hands saying: "Milord. Worldly matters, lack right or wrong. Pitiful people must possess hateful and detestable aspects. Hateful and detestable people also must possess pitiful aspects."
The Inner Chancellor started laughing faintly: "The Nie Family lost their exclusive singular consummate skills. Hardedly being squeezed and ran upon by Jizhou's Medicine King Li Family and Su Zhou's Tiger Hill Fireworks Society until rendered down and out (declined). The people of the world universally scold Master Nie's son as eating his own fruit (reaping what he sowed). But the people of the world do not know... that Master Nie from a young age applied mutually added cudgels and sticks (beatings) toward his son, splitting not a single coin giving it. Every single time that son sought Master Nie asking for silver to spend, he would necessarily be subjected to Master Nie voicing bitterness (complaining of hardship) for half a shichen (one hour), and humiliatingly scolded for half a shichen. Now Master Nie has died. Managing whether the consummate skills were left behind or not, the most happy universally is this son... Human hearts ah, where is there right or wrong? It is merely Karma ripening and naturally shedding falling from the branches."
Bai Long seemed as if possessing thoughts.
Bai Long asked a question in return: "Lord Inner Chancellor at that time ought to still be in the Firewood and Charcoal Bureau right. In Capital City's outskirts one cannot see the fireworks within Capital City."
The Inner Chancellor did not at all mind Bai Long's probing test. Indifferently and calmly answering: "That year someone secretly brought me entering the capital. The four of us followed behind his back starving until unable to walk. He also didn't bring silver upon his body, and simply plucked a hairpin trading it for five blazing hot roasted sweet potatoes... People have sorrows and joys, partings and reunions. The moon has dimness and brightness, waxing and waning. This matter since ancient times has been difficult to perfect. Good lyric-poetry."
Bai Long realized, the Inner Chancellor today speaking these stories by no means possessed any remarkably deep symbolic meaning. Also it by no means was wanting to warn and show him anything. Perhaps merely sitting inside this Trouble-Resolving Tower he had been lonely and solitary for too long, and also somewhat wished to look at the human world's fireworks outside the window.
He suddenly asked: "Milord. Among the people night-touring the Lantern Festival thirty-one years ago, Feng Wenzheng ought to be one single one among them right."
The Inner Chancellor turned his head back, separating the folding screens looking at him. His speeches and words between somewhat scant and tasteless: "Making you succeed Bai Long was Feng Wenzheng's intention. I at that time felt you were too young. But he said who still didn't come over from being young. If you don't wish to act as Bai Long, you can at any time resign and depart. This Chancellor has another person selected... You do not like the Trouble-Resolving Tower. Since you stayed arriving at the present listening to me chatter and nag. You ought to possess words to speak. Take what should be spoken entirely and universally speak it. Finish speaking and then leave."
Bai Long calmly asked: "Lord Inner Chancellor. Excellent fields' grain yields per mu flipping and doubling isn't important?"
The Inner Chancellor responded: "Naturally it is important."
Bai Long again asked: "Firearms improvements isn't important?"
The Inner Chancellor used his fingers to beat and strike the desk: "Also important."
Bai Long asked anew: "Now His Majesty's places spending silver are many, the Inner Treasury and national treasury isn't important?"
The Inner Chancellor said smilingly: "Of course important."
Bai Long said bewildered: "This lowly official does not understand. Since they are universally all important, why does Milord entirely not want them, but instead conversely wants Chen Ji to use Han Tong's life to come trade for it? Those three things spoken of in front... which single one is entirely much more important than Han Tong's life."
During the speech, a moth flew entering from outside the window losing its direction, within the room revolving surrounding the oil lantern's fire flames.
The Inner Chancellor with a calm expression watched the moth. Slowly and leisurely saying: "You perhaps are precisely feeling this Chancellor is viciously poisonous right. Clearly knowing Han Tong and the Commandery Princess's relationship, clearly also knowing Chen Ji knows it. Why still want him to use the father to rescue the daughter?"
Bai Long by no means avoided the taboo: "Precisely is."
The Inner Chancellor laughed faintly with unrestrained ease: "You cannot think through to understand what exactly this Chancellor wants to do. Just like how you also cannot think through to understand why Chen Ji is unwilling to let go of his hand. In this world many matters are universally what you cannot think through. Because you are not Chen Ji, nor are you this Chancellor. Look at this moth... clearly inside the building so many windows are open, why does it just stubbornly not leave?"
Bai Long remained silently unspeaking.
The Inner Chancellor pointed at the spiraling revolving moth: "That is what you see. But it cannot see it. It only can rush toward the light flying, because previously it precisely leaned upon this bit of bright light to only then survive down. A useless shortcoming will not be left upon your body. Because these years it is precisely you leaning upon this shortcoming to only then live arriving at today. Chen Ji is like this, this Chancellor is also like this."
Bai Long silently pondered.
The Inner Chancellor waved his clothing sleeves: "Go. My Trouble-Resolving Tower only resolves predicament realms, we do not give shortcut paths."
Bai Long cupped his hands saying: "This lowly official takes his leave."
Waiting until he withdrew from the room. At the fleeting instant the room doors were about to close together. He penetrating through the cracks saw the person inside had blown out the oil lantern.
Chen Ji passed through Zhengyang Gate's city gate cavern. Only hearing the wine shops beside Zhengyang Gate Avenue bustlingly noisy, the sounds of people boiling like a cauldron.
Arriving at the Eight Great Hutongs, he anew saw heads of people moving and clustering together. According to logic speaking the Eight Great Hutongs during ordinary days even if it's considered bustlingly lively, also shouldn't reach the point of rubbing shoulders and connecting heels (being completely packed). He sought people asking and inquiring for a bit. Only then knowing today Baishun Hutong was about to select a Floral Queen. Top Courtesans managing households universally had to come out performing talents and arts.
He couldn't care about gathering the liveliness. Proceeding straight arriving at Plum Blossom Ferry. From far away simply seeing Brother Pao leaning on the railings at Plum Blossom Pavilion smoking his Tobacco Pipe. Silently guarding his own family's business.
Chen Ji ascended to the top floor, casually asking: "Brother Pao today how come you didn't go celebrate Mid-Autumn?"
Brother Pao faintly smiled: "The Boss master speaks jokes. Where does the service profession have festival holidays? This precisely is the most busy time."
Service profession.
Festival holidays.
These two phrases listening made Chen Ji experience a burst of tranced daze.
Brother Pao smilingly explained: "I previously a while ago also wished to learn mimicking Ning Dynasty people speaking words. But later I felt once I forgot my native village accents, perhaps I would simply take home forgetting it. So simply not altering it... The Boss master how come didn't go celebrate the Mid-Autumn festival?"
Chen Ji shook his head: "Lacking time to celebrate Mid-Autumn anymore. How are the people previously planted entering the Canal Transport Guild? Have they met Han Tong?"
Brother Pao took a single mouthful of his Tobacco Pipe, meticulously introducing: "This Canal Transport Guild leans upon the rivers and lives. Half Official, half bandit. Rules and frameworks (strictures) are extremely numerous. Below the General Helm Master Han Tong are the 'Four Beams and Eight Pillars'. Below the 'Four Beams and Eight Pillars' are still branch 'Helm Masters'. Below 'Helm Masters' are still 'Branch Hall Masters'. And below Hall Masters are only then canal laborers, Boat Trackers, and dock workers."
"Acting three years as a canal laborer to only then be capable of rising to Hall Master. Acting five years as Hall Master to only then be capable of acting as Helm Master. Acting five years as Helm Master to only then possess the possibility becoming the 'Four Beams and Eight Pillars'. Reaching the 'Four Beams and Eight Pillars' only then possesses the opportunity to see Han Tong... Han Tong also knows very many people are seeking him, wishing him to die. Therefore our people up to today have universally never seen him."
Speaking to this point, Brother Pao used his pinky finger to scratch and scratch his scalp. Complaining: "A single Canal Transport Guild made up exactly like evaluating professional titles. Not The Jianghu at all. But it just absolutely is these rules that make outsiders dead or alive unable to infiltrate entering inside. Must endure and simmer."
Chen Ji wrinkled his brows asking: "If wishing to mix entering the Canal Transport Guild, what rules must still be paid attention to?"
Brother Pao recalled: "First must learn their underworld jargon. Boats are 'drifters', grain is 'sand', Government Offices are called 'water mosquitoes', killing people is called 'washing the river', dividing money is called 'raining'. This single set of underworld jargon of theirs is still different with the Green Forests (outlaws). It is convoluted and complex very.
The Boss master wishes to mix entering inside the Canal Transport Guild? Then you only can first act three years as a canal laborer. And afterward mix entering the Wind Letter Hall (intelligence) or the Enforcing the Law Hall. The Wind Letter Hall gathers up The Jianghu Intelligence and Government Office movement directions; the Enforcing the Law Hall then executes guild rules, internally punishing and chastising, externally slaughtering and killing."
Three years is a hurdle (Kalpa threshold). Chen Ji couldn't wait three years.
At this time, opposite Cold Plum Building was Brightly Lit. There were song girls' voices drifting and wavering over.
Chen Ji didn't understand: "Brother Pao. Let's say, why does the royal court wish to kill Han Tong this much? Even when I opened out such good conditions they completely disregarded and didn't care. Expressly wanting this single person Han Tong. In the end exactly what matters did he provoke, or perhaps his body exactly conceals what secrets?"
Brother Pao shook his head: "Then I do not know. I heard the Canal Transport Guild possesses three iron rules: Those who privately communicate with outside guilds or Government Offices, selling out canal transport routes or water level secret maps, sink into the river; Those who rob and plunder proper exchanged canal grain, Lighting the Heavenly Lantern; Those who rape brothers' wives and daughters, or privately swallow huge amounts of public silver, Three Knives and Six Holes. There are also four golden branches (golden rules): On the river navigating boats, seeing the seal releasing grain, only recognizing General Helm Master Han Tong's single person Official Seal; Segregating segments holding responsibility, crossing borders paying respects to the mountain, each and every branch helm manages strictly their own family's river segment, boat vessels crossing borders require toward the local ground paying river propriety (tolls)—"
Brother Pao speaking to this point, turned his head looking toward Chen Ji: "Does the royal court precisely wish for the river map inside Han Tong's hands? Canal transport water depths are not uniform. Some places are capable of navigating boats, some places are easy to run aground upon the shallows. I heard upon this Grand Canal every year purely the boat vessels running aground exclusively number upwards of a hundred ships. So long as you know the positions of the hidden reefs and shallow shoals, you simply can go upon a ship acting as an executive officer with a Monthly Salary of sixty silver taels."
Chen Ji wrinkled his brows pondering, is it merely for the river map? If it was merely for the sake of the river map, seeking more experienced and aged veteran boat workers also could piece and piece it out.
Brother Pao probingly tested: "The Boss master wants to grasp Han Tong?"
Chen Ji did not answer.
He also hadn't thought well exactly whether or not he wanted to grasp him... That after all was Commandery Princess Baili's biological, flesh-and-blood father. The Commandery Princess's biological mother Consort Yun had already been killed personally by his hands. Moreover disregarding why he killed her. If he again personally with his own hands grasped the other party's father, before Bai Li's face how should he situate himself?
Wait.
Chen Ji recalled Wu Yun once spoke outside Zhongcui Palace. The Empress also wished to help Bai Li escape predicament. She also spoke "the Canal Transport Guild initiated use of several small eunuchs planted in early years within the palace to secretly help the Commandery Princess. Among them one person is called Xu Xi, he is of the Directorate of Imperial Clothing. Once secretly delivering a box of rouge to the Commandery Princess".
Is the Canal Transport Guild whether or not also secretly scheming matters to rescue and take away Bai Li? Does not know whether they possess methods or not possess methods?
Chen Ji deeply, deeply inhaled a breath of air: "Brother Pao. You personally walk a trip to the Canal Transport Guild. Saying a Luo City old friend has important matters mutually discussing. Requesting him out for a single meeting."
Brother Pao knocked away the tobacco ashes inside the Tobacco Pipe. Hoisting up his own black cloth jacket draping it upon his shoulders: "I simply will go this exact moment."
[Translation note: skipped typo]
(End of this chapter)