Chapter 31: A Snake Swallows an Elephant When Its Heart is Not Enough
The autumn sunlight was warm. Escort Lu walked through the courtyard corridor under the eaves, paused briefly, and then entered the hall.
“Boss.”
“Sit.” Lei Luo, the Boss of Four Seas, placed his teacup on the table and sighed, “How is Escort Su’s injury?”
“He should recover in about ten days to half a month.”
“Mm, very good. Don’t dwell on what happened yesterday. Victory and defeat are common in warfare.”
“Thank you for your concern, Boss. I can endure it, but you… we are incompetent. Not only did we lose the escort, but we also made the Boss participate in that Burning Heart Feast.”
“Who told Four Seas not to have a Zhou Yan.”
“Boss, that’s not quite right. The reason Escort Su failed was that Zhou Yan, through some unknown opportunity, made rapid progress in his cultivation in just half a month. He improved so much compared to the conflict at Songhe Tower that Escort Su could not anticipate it and thus suffered a loss. I was purely restrained by the stone lock in my spear techniques, not due to a lack of skill. In terms of martial arts, Fu’an Escort Bureau’s top fighters are Head Escort Zhang Wangyue and Shi Xiangui, followed by escorts Huyan Lei, Wang Kui, Shi Baichuan, Cui Qingshan, and others.”
“That makes sense, but Zhou Yan is young.”
“Indeed, once Zhou Yan grows up, the days for Four Seas will be quite difficult.”
Boss Lei Luo glanced sideways at Escort Lu, “I feel like there’s more to your words.”
Escort Lu said, “Since the Boss asks, I will share some of my thoughts.”
“Speak freely.”
“The news of the competing escort will surely spread. It will be extremely difficult for escort bureaus to secure lucrative escorts in the future. But what if this escort goes missing, and Fu’an’s reputation is ruined?”
“What do you mean?”
Escort Lu said, “Fu’an’s escort is definitely passing through the Yellow River. I happen to know Sha Tongtian, the Gang Leader of the Yellow River Gang, and he is currently in Zhongdu. With a generous sum of money, the Yellow River Gang can seize the escort.”
Boss Lei Luo drank his tea, remaining silent.
Escort Lu continued, “Fu’an Escort Bureau is actually divided into two major factions, led by Head Escorts Zhang Wangyue and Shi Xiangui. Zhou Yan is one of Head Escort Zhang’s men. If this escort is lost, Shi Xiangui can gain the upper hand over Zhang Wangyue. Fu’an will have internal strife, and they will have to compensate for the lost escort. Trapped by both internal and external pressures, they will be unable to recover. It’s even possible that the Boss could annex Fu’an, and then Four Seas would leap to become the foremost among the Four Great Escort Bureaus. The number one escort bureau in the world.”
How could Lei Luo not be tempted? He was not an outsider. If Fu’an lost the escort, the compensation would be enough to bankrupt Duan Huai’an. Then, with internal strife, the chances of taking over Fu’an would be at least eighty percent. With the two escort bureaus merged into one, Four Seas Escort Agency would firmly hold the position of the leader among the Four Great Escort Bureaus, the best in the world, truly transporting goods across the Four Seas and escorting in all directions.
He said in a low voice, “Are you confident?”
Escort Lu vowed, “The Yellow River Gang specializes in this kind of business on the water. With a word from the Boss, I will handle the rest. It’s foolproof.”
Lei Luo’s mind was now filled with “The number one escort bureau in the world.” He instructed, “Good, make sure it’s done without anyone knowing.”
“Rest assured, Boss.”
…
Cui Changshun walked listlessly down the long street, unable to shake off the vivid descriptions of Zhou Yan’s escort competition from the previous day. Besides jealousy and hatred for Zhou Yan, he also fantasized about how wonderful it would be if he could succeed in seizing the escort and gain fame.
Suddenly, a voice called out from behind him, “Brother Cui, please wait.”
Cui Changshun turned around upon hearing this, only to see Escort Su and Escort Lu from Four Seas.
The two escort bureaus knew each other well. Since Four Seas intended to make a move on Fu’an and wanted to inquire about something, it was not difficult. With a little money, they found out about the discord between Zhou Yan and the uncle and nephew duo, Cui Changqing and Cui Changshun.
“Are you looking for me?” Cui Changshun asked the escorts from Four Seas, confused.
Escort Lu smiled and said, “I am a straightforward person. I cannot stand those who hide their true feelings, so I will speak plainly.”
“Then please do,” Cui Changshun replied.
Escort Lu began, “A pearl cast into the sea. Brother Cui, you have great ability, but unfortunately, Fu’an is blind. If Brother Cui were to join Four Seas, becoming an escort would be a natural progression.”
Escort Su added, “Exactly. A tree that doesn’t move dies; a person who moves lives.”
“Is this true?” Cui Changshun was tempted.
“Of course. Not only for Brother Cui, but also for your uncle, Escort Cui. As long as you join Four Seas, your position will be above mine.”
Changing allegiances was not uncommon in the escort world. Zhang Wangyue himself had moved from Dragon Gate Escort Bureau in Lin’an Prefecture to Fu’an Escort Bureau in Daxing Prefecture.
Cui Changshun excitedly said, “I’ll tell my uncle when he returns.”
“That would be excellent. Is your hope of promotion to escort at Fu’an blocked because of Zhou Yan?”
“Naturally!” Cui Changshun gritted his teeth.
“Do you want to see Zhou Yan ruined?”
“Of course, I do.”
“Let’s go, find a secluded place to talk.”
Under the bright daylight, the three walked towards a narrow alley.
…
Sha Tongtian, the “Ghost Gate Dragon King,” was not surprised when the Prince’s Manor steward informed him that someone was looking for him.
His disciples knew that he and his junior brother were at the Prince’s Manor. It was possible that something had happened in the gang and someone had been sent.
He left the Prince’s Manor with Hou Tonghai.
The person who came to pay respects to Sha Tongtian was Escort Lu. He saw the Yellow River Gang leader, whose eyes were bloodshot and whose head was shiny, and quickly stepped forward, cupping his hands, “Lu An greets Gang Leader Sha.”
Sha Tongtian looked at the burly man before him, scrutinizing him. He had a vague memory; the man seemed to be an escort who had visited the gang before, perhaps by the Yellow River.
“You are an escort…”
“Gang Leader Sha has a good memory. I am Lu An, an escort from Four Seas Escort Agency.”
“I remember.”
Lu An smiled obsequiously, “I happened to learn that you, sir, have arrived in Zhongdu and came to pay my respects.”
Sha Tongtian, unlike his junior brother Three-Headed Flood Dragon Hou Tonghai, whose mind was often slow, knew these were flattering words. He asked, “Is it about a shipment on the Yellow River that you need help with?”
“No, it’s not. The Boss of the escort bureau has offered a reward of five hundred taels of gold for your assistance.”
“Let’s find a place to talk.”
Lu An was overjoyed, “Gang Leader Sha, please this way.”
The three walked around the Prince’s Manor, and a horse carriage was parked at the alley entrance.
“Please, Gang Leader.”
“Mm!”
The three got into the carriage. Escort Lu, Lu An, lifted the yellow silk and opened the wooden chest containing gold.
Three-Headed Flood Dragon Hou Tonghai grinned, “It’s gold.”
“Explain in detail.”
“Gang Leader Sha is honorable.” Escort Lu, Lu An, flattered him, then concisely explained that Fu’an was escorting goods through the Yellow River these past two days and wanted the Yellow River Gang to intercept the escort.
After he finished speaking, he immediately added, “Hundreds of mules and horses, mostly horses. A single ordinary horse is worth dozens of taels of silver. With the current chaotic times, there’s no shortage of buyers. The mules, horses, and other escort goods will all be yours, sir.”
Sha Tongtian, being shrewd, quickly deduced that this was a dispute between escort bureaus, a common occurrence. However, five hundred taels of gold plus the proceeds from the escort goods meant substantial profit. He said, “It’s a good deal, but I am indisposed.”
Lu An’s heart sank.
Then he heard the Ghost Gate Dragon King’s voice, which sounded like heavenly music.
“How about this, I’ll let my junior brother handle it.”
“Thank you, Gang Leader Sha.”
Lu An was overjoyed, seeing the clouds part to reveal the blue sky!
…
During the day, Merchant Lu purchased nearly twenty carts of leather goods, medicinal herbs, and spices. After he and the Boss settled the accounts and inspected the goods, Zhou Yan, along with the other escorts and runners, loaded the cargo into the escort chests and sealed them.
All the goods were now complete.
Merchant Lu was also generous, allowing the escort bureau to use the purchased mules to pull the escort carts, thus saving the bureau the need to hire from the horse market.
Everything was ready; they were just waiting for an auspicious day to depart.
Zhou Yan was on night duty. At dusk, he went home first. He carefully stored the 《Yue Family Fist Manual》, which included meridian diagrams, and his accumulated savings. He only prepared over fifty taels for his trip to Xiangyang upon his return. Then, he prepared wound medicine, a dagger, an iron finger ring, and a packet of lime powder. He kept one packet of lime powder on his person and packed the rest into his travel bag.
As it was still early, Zhou Yan maintained his bow and arrows, then packed them into his quiver. After inspecting everything inside and out, he plucked three long hairs, stuck them to the door with rice grains, and climbed out the window.
He used the door bolt to lock the door, scaled the wall out of the courtyard, and headed straight for the escort bureau.
