Chapter 452 - 395: Jiangxin Ferry
Chen Li set out from Lingxi at the crack of dawn. He galloped his horse without rest and arrived at Liyang Commandery City by evening.
When he arrived at the manor, the servants on duty dared not be negligent and hurried over to pay their respects.
Chen Li had no time for other matters. After dismissing them, he ordered Bi He to take an inventory of the silk from the Textile Workshop’s warehouse, the city shops, and the manor’s own stores, and to gather a total of thirty thousand bolts.
"All of it?"
Bi He was startled. Seeing Chen Li’s cold expression, she didn’t dare ask any more questions and quickly replied, "Yes. I will see to it at once."
As for Shouyue’s kidnappers, Chen Li already had a few suspicions about their origins, but he couldn’t be certain.
For now, the safest course of action was to prepare the ransom as demanded, just in case.
Fortunately, the Chen Family could indeed produce thirty thousand bolts of silk.
This was no coincidence, but the result of arrangements Chen Li had made at the start of the year.
At the time, he had instructed Qian Laibao to quickly sell off the silk produced by the Lingxi Textile Workshop. The main reason was that the Weaving Ladies at Lingxi were still new to the craft, so the silk they produced inevitably had occasional flaws.
Selling to individual customers, in an economy where silk was in high demand but short supply, meant that standards for quality were much lower.
More importantly, any problems would be reported back by the buyers immediately, allowing the workshop’s Weaving Ladies to make improvements. Their skills would naturally improve much faster that way.
The Liyang Textile Workshop, however, was different.
Most of the Weaving Ladies here were skilled workers, many of them master artisans with exquisite craftsmanship. The silk they produced was of a consistently high quality.
This kind of silk was ideal for large-scale transactions, attracting major merchants who required thousands or even tens of thousands of bolts at a time.
Therefore, Chen Li had told Zhou Shuwei not to rush the sales, instructing her to only negotiate with major merchants who could purchase over a thousand bolts at once. His intention was to cultivate new channels of buyers and bide his time for a better price.
However, events took an unexpected turn.
It wasn’t a lack of buyers. In fact, there were too many, and their appetites were astonishing.
Since spring began, a constant stream of Scholars and Gentry and merchants had come to negotiate, immediately asking for five or ten thousand bolts. The wealthiest among them even boasted they would buy whatever quantity the Chen Family could supply.
However, each of their offers was more ruthless than the last. They consistently tried to push the price below forty taels a bolt, with some going so far as to offer only thirty-five.
This price was nearly half the market rate of sixty taels.
Zhou Shuwei, of course, was unwilling to agree so easily and had written to Chen Li for guidance.
After some consideration, Chen Li had replied, telling her not to rush. They would stockpile the silk for now and wait and see.
And so, the silk from the Liyang Textile Workshop had been stockpiled, batch after batch.
After Bi He left, Chen Li summoned an old steward who had previously served the Zhou Family. He instructed the steward to find an Escort Agency with a decent reputation in the Commandery City, negotiate the commission, and arrange for thirty thousand bolts of silk to be safely escorted to Jiangxin Ferry Pier, located forty li east of the city, at 3:00 PM on the first of the eighth month.
By the next day, all arrangements were in place.
After a simple lunch, Chen Li set out from Liyang alone, driving a green-canopied carriage toward Jiangxin Ferry.
Jiangxin Ferry was situated on a bend in the Lishui River, in a downstream section where the current flowed more gently.
Many years ago, the convenient waterway had led to the spontaneous formation of a bustling marketplace here, teeming with merchants traveling from north to south.
Unfortunately, in the 8th year of Yuan Jia, the Jiangnan region was hit by a great flood. The Lishui River swelled violently, and Jiangxin Ferry, being downstream, was all but destroyed overnight.
Although the Government Office rebuilt the pier after the floodwaters receded, the place never regained its former popularity.
Over time, the place was reduced to a solitary pier, a few humble teahouses where passing boatmen could rest, a single inn, and a dozen or so crooked, mud-brick houses.
When Chen Li arrived, a few Tugmen waiting for work were scattered along the bank. Their eyes flickered over his carriage before quickly looking away.
He released his Divine Sense, meticulously scanning the pier and the surrounding area for over a hundred zhang. He found no abnormal energy signatures, nor any signs of an ambush.
Expressionless, Chen Li parked his carriage in the inn’s rear courtyard and requested an ordinary room.
The room was cramped, the furnishings sparse, and the bedding reeked of a foul odor.
But he paid it no mind. He sat cross-legged on the hard plank bed, closed his eyes, and regulated his breathing. His Divine Sense spread out, blanketing all of Jiangxin Ferry.
Time trickled by, and Jiangxin Ferry remained as quiet as ever.
Occasionally, a cargo boat would dock to unload some heavy goods or pick up a handful of passengers before quickly departing.
「Another day passed.」
Late in the afternoon, the clatter of hooves and the crunch of wheels on the road shattered the pier’s tranquility.
A massive convoy snaked its way toward the pier.
Hundreds of large wagons, laden with heavy wooden crates, rolled into the open area by the pier, packing the once-empty space to the brim.
The sheer volume of thirty thousand bolts of silk was a spectacular sight, instantly transforming the desolate little pier into a crowded, bustling scene.
The waiting Tugmen craned their necks to watch, whispering curiously amongst themselves about which major power could be behind such a massive shipment.
The Escort Agency’s Chief Leader was a sharp-featured, middle-aged man. He had a Cultivation at the Spirit Realm Second Level Profound Acupoint Level and was considered a prominent figure in the Liyang region.
He directed his men to arrange the wagons in a defensive formation and post guards on all sides. He himself, accompanied by a few of his most capable men, vigilantly scanned the surroundings.
The client had only asked for the goods to be delivered to this location, without specifying who the recipient was or when they would arrive for pickup. This made him a little uneasy.
Chen Li remained in his inn room, making no move.
At 7:45 PM, the sky had grown completely dark. By a rare stroke of luck, there was no rain, but thick, dark clouds hung low in the sky, obscuring the moon and stars.
Just then, a single point of light appeared downstream, tearing through the darkness and rapidly growing larger.
A Treasure Ship cut through the river’s current, heading for Jiangxin Ferry.
Two figures stood at the bow, leaning against the railing.
On the left was a stunningly beautiful middle-aged woman in a pale lavender, palace-style gown, her dark hair swept up in an elegant coiffure.
On the right stood a man who appeared to be in his forties. He had a fair, beardless face with delicate, effeminate features, and his hands were tucked into his wide, brocade sleeves.
And a short distance behind them, a woman in a plain, coarse-cloth dress stood with a meek, submissive air, guarding a young girl who was unconscious, her eyes shut tight.
The Dust-Cleaning Slave’s gaze swept over the mountain of crates on the shore, and a sinister, effeminate smile touched his lips. "The Chen Family isn’t as stupid as I thought. No clever tricks; they obediently delivered the goods. I suppose this means their precious young miss can be spared a bit of unnecessary suffering."
"I’d advise a bit more caution."
The Silk Lady let out a barely audible scoff, clearly displeased by the Dust-Cleaning Slave’s smugness. "What if the Chen Family is only pretending to comply? What if they’ve secretly laid an ambush, just waiting for us to walk into their trap?"
"An ambush?"
The Dust-Cleaning Slave laughed malevolently. "Didn’t Jiang Nanyue already determine that the strongest person in the Chen Family is their Patriarch, who only has a Divine Intent Cultivation? Even if he finds help, what kind of masters could he possibly find here in Jiangzhou? Just a few Grandmasters—nothing but cannon fodder, clay chickens and pottery dogs waiting to be shattered."
He lifted his chin slightly. "You and Jiang Nanyue just keep an eye on the girl and make sure there are no mistakes. When the time comes, just watch me. A few insignificant ants... I can crush them with a flick of my wrist."
A cold glint flashed in the Silk Lady’s eyes as she gently tucked away a strand of hair the wind had blown loose. "Fine. Just remember you said that. Don’t come crying to me for help later."
"’Beg you?’"
The Dust-Cleaning Slave’s narrow eyes narrowed further, a cold glint flashing within them. "As if that could ever happen!"
The Treasure Ship drew alongside the pier, and thick mooring ropes were tossed ashore.
A sharp-eyed old Tugman had already stepped forward. He caught the thick ropes thrown from the ship and strained to secure the vessel.
"Let’s go."
The Dust-Cleaning Slave said no more, giving a glance to the Silk Lady and Jiang Nanyue.
Before the ship had even settled completely, the three figures drifted down from the high bow like phantoms.
The Dust-Cleaning Slave and the Silk Lady landed without a sound.
Jiang Nanyue followed behind them, supporting the unconscious Chen Shouyue with a meek and downcast air.
The Dust-Cleaning Slave’s gaze swept over the escort members, who stood in grim formation. His eyes finally settled on their Chief Leader. "Where is the Chen Family?" his voice was shrill. "The goods have been delivered. Why are you not here to make the exchange?"
The Chief Leader’s heart went cold, but he cupped his fist in a gesture that was neither servile nor arrogant. "I was hired to escort this shipment to this location. My client only instructed me to deliver it to Jiangxin Ferry Pier. They did not specify who I was to hand it over to."
His words were diplomatic, but they held an undercurrent of vigilance, and his hand had already drifted to the hilt of his blade.
The Dust-Cleaning Slave’s brow furrowed, his expression turning grim.
’What is the Chen Family playing at? Sending an Escort Agency to deliver the goods while they themselves stay hidden? Don’t they want their daughter back? Or are they just handing over thirty thousand bolts of silk for free?’
Suspicion began to fester in his mind.
Just at that moment, the sound of measured footsteps approached from the direction of the inn.
The Dust-Cleaning Slave turned toward the sound and saw a middle-aged man emerging from the inn at a calm, unhurried pace.
Seeing that the man himself had finally appeared—and all alone—the last vestiges of his suspicion vanished, replaced by the detached certainty of someone in complete control.
"You... are Chen Li?"
A playful, cat-and-mouse smile touched the Dust-Cleaning Slave’s lips.
Chen Li’s gaze lingered for a moment on the disguised woman’s downcast face before flicking away to scan the Dust-Cleaning Slave’s pale, effeminate features.
When he saw his daughter—eyes shut tight, supported by the woman in the coarse dress—the great weight that had been crushing his heart eased slightly.
But upon seeing his daughter’s unconscious state, the killing intent in his eyes threatened to spill over. "And who might you two be?"
The cold smile on the Dust-Cleaning Slave’s lips widened. "Who we are is unimportant. Patriarch Chen, you had best rein in that killing intent. Otherwise, I can’t guarantee my hand won’t... slip... and do something unfortunate to your beloved daughter."
Chen Li didn’t press the matter of their identities. He said flatly, "The thirty thousand bolts of silk are here. It’s time for you to release my daughter."
"Release her? Of course, we’ll release her."
The Dust-Cleaning Slave let out a dry cackle. "We pride ourselves on our credibility. If we say we’ll release her, we’ll release her. But..."
His tone shifted as he continued slowly, "...not until after you’ve moved all this silk onto our ship. How does that sound?"
Chen Li nodded without another word. He took out a token and tossed it to the Chief Leader nearby.
"Chief Lin, please have your men move all the cargo onto that ship."
Chief Lin caught the token and offered a word of caution. "Patriarch Chen, the standard practice is a simultaneous exchange of hostage and cargo. If we unload the goods now, I fear something will go wrong."
He had been an escort for many years and had seen far too many vicious criminals kill their hostage the moment the ransom was paid. The two people before him were clearly not the benevolent sort, and he had a very bad feeling about this exchange.
Chen Li said, "Thank you for the warning, Chief Lin. I am aware. Please proceed as we agreed."
Seeing Chen Li’s confident expression, Chief Lin, though still full of doubt, knew it was not his place to say more. He was an outsider, after all.
He sighed to himself, put the token away, and turned to the Darts Masters and hired Porters behind him. "Alright, brothers, let’s get to it! Unload the wagons and load the ship! And be quick about it!"