Chapter 34: Yellow River Ferry Crossing, Iron Spear Mu Yi
The wind swept through the escort agency’s courtyard, letting out a low growl as it swirled under the eaves.
Cui Changshun had already been detained, and Duan Huai’an certainly wouldn’t agree to Shi Baichuan’s immediate plan to retaliate against Sihai. He asked Zhang Wangyue, “What does the Head Escort think we should do?”
After weighing the situation, Zhang Wangyue said, “This matter involves Escort Shi and Escort Cui, and the Boss is still on an escort mission in the Shu Region. It’s not advisable to publicize this. We should handle it after the Boss returns, distinguishing between personal and official matters.”
Duan Huai’an nodded, “That is very appropriate. Cui Changshun was supposed to be on this escort anyway. Since he’s detained and under guard, it’s unlikely he’ll leak any information. I just wonder if the Sihai Boss is aware of this matter.”
Shi Baichuan said, “Sihai and Fu’an have been at odds for a long time. Escort Su and Escort Lu are Sihai’s men, so they can’t be separated from Lei Luo.”
Duan Huai’an’s gaze turned to Zhou Yan, “You’re still so sharp. What do you think of this situation?”
Zhou Yan said, “The Boss is right, the escort cargo is the priority. However, after this incident, the conflict between Fu’an and Sihai will likely escalate from the shadows. Only one of the two escort agencies can survive in Zhongdu.”
Duan Huai’an looked at Zhang Wangyue.
The Head Escort nodded slightly.
The Boss said:
“Alright, I know what to do.”
…
Everything seemed as if it had never happened.
The crowing of a rooster is auspicious, noon is favorable.
Before dawn, the runners, laborers, and grooms of Fu’an began to prepare for the escort mission.
Firecrackers were hung outside the grand gatehouse, and in the large and small courtyards, pine wood burned in basins to ward off evil and disaster.
The runners setting out secured the escort chests with hidden locks and attached small triangular escort flags.
Zhou Yan, Wang Kui, Shi Baichuan, and others were in the martial field.
Huyan Lei took his gold-inlaid tiger head spear, flicked his wrist, and the iron spear let out a low hum in the morning light.
“After this escort returns, I will personally deal with those dirty and despicable fellows, Su and Lu.”
Zhou Yan had developed a deep bond with the three escorts. Huyan Lei, who had arrived early, heard about what happened the night before and was furious. He complained to Shi Baichuan, “You should have arranged for someone to send me a message.”
Escort Shi looked innocent.
Zhou Yan said with a smile, “The Boss and Head Escort are far-sighted. This escort is also special. As the saying goes, ‘a moment of impatience can spoil a great plan.’ There will be plenty of time for you to settle scores when we get back, old brother.”
“That makes me feel a bit better.”
Huyan Lei took the spear bag from his waist and put it over the broad spearhead, saying to Zhou Yan, “You should pick a weapon too.”
“Then I’ll take a saber.” He was currently learning the Five Tiger Severing Gate Saber technique, so he chose a straight saber.
Escort Wang Kui sheathed his polished, gleaming long saber and slung it at his waist.
Shi Baichuan’s weapon was an iron fan, which he usually carried with him.
With weapons and bows and arrows at his back, Zhou Yan was ready. Huyan Lei said to Wang Kui, “We’ll head out first.”
“Alright!”
Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and Shi Baichuan were responsible for the mule and horse team. They needed to go out of the city first to drive them out from the horse market and gather them.
The other escort cargo would be escorted by Head Escort Zhang Wangyue, Wang Kui, and several other escorts.
The three, along with twenty-eight runners skilled in horsemanship and ten grooms, bid farewell to the Boss.
Duan Huai’an had already prepared farewell wine. They drank and set off. May the journey be smooth and the return safe. Upon leaving the escort agency’s gate, they had to abide by Fu’an’s thirty-six rules, such as not touching alcohol and not staying in new establishments or brothels.
When the wine reached Zhou Yan, he held the bowl with both hands and drank it down in one gulp. The strong liquor burned like fire down his throat.
Duan Huai’an patted Zhou Yan’s shoulder, “Raise your cup to the sky, tread upon mountains and rivers. Go like a dragon entering the sea, return like a dragon entering the clouds.”
The Boss’s sincere heart and earnest words spoke of Zhou Yan becoming one of the escort agency’s pillars after this experience. He was an excellent judge of character; otherwise, he wouldn’t have told Shi Xiangui’s son, Duan Zhaoxi, that Zhou Yan was Fu’an’s future when Shi Xiangui set out on his escort mission that day.
“Thank you, Boss!”
Duan Huai’an nodded.
The wind rustled past, leaves swayed. After drinking, Zhou Yan and the others headed straight for the stable.
The “Night-Shining Jade Lion” saw Zhou Yan and let out a heavy snort, two streams of white breath spraying out a foot without dissipating.
“What a fine horse,” Shi Baichuan exclaimed.
Huyan Lei’s Wuzhui horse, Escort Shi’s yellow spotted horse, and the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” were led out from the escort agency’s side gate one after another. Zhou Yan and the others mounted their horses, their hoofbeats like thunder as they galloped away.
The three, each with runners, were responsible for three horse markets. Before noon, nearly three hundred mules and horses were gathered together. Zhou Yan saw over two hundred and forty fine horses within his sight. The rest were mules.
It was exactly as Zhang Wangyue had predicted; the ultimate destination for these fine horses was the military camp.
Huyan Lei arranged for runners to ride into the city to report that the mules and horses were ready.
At noon, Zhang Wangyue, who had already had his farewell wine in the Fu’an escort agency’s courtyard, shouted, “Raise the escort flag!”
The leading runners swiftly raised the great Fu’an escort agency flag. The flag unfurled, carts rumbled, horses whinnied, escorts had bows and arrows at their waists. Amidst the deafening sound of firecrackers, the escort team majestically departed the agency, disappearing amidst shouts of “Take Care.”
The two groups of people met outside Zhongdu City to the southwest, and the mules were led out to pull the carts.
The horse team was in front, the escort team behind, heading directly towards the Baoding Prefecture line.
Autumn wind swept through Zhongdu.
As the saying goes, “A horse doesn’t get fat without night fodder, and a person doesn’t get rich without ill-gotten gains.” Those with ill intentions who had their eyes on the escort cargo began to leave the city.
The wind arises from the end of the duckweed, the waves form from ripples.
…
After the escort team passed Baoding Prefecture, there were no more large-scale, prosperous cities along the way.
But there should have been villages and market towns that were originally densely populated.
However, as Zhou Yan traveled, he saw no scenes of “distant villages, hazy smoke in the fields. Dogs barking in deep alleys, roosters crowing on mulberry trees.” The Jin Dynasty’s repeated southward campaigns, searching the mountains and seas, had left behind the desolation of “lonely villages at sunset with lingering clouds, light smoke, old trees, and cold crows.”
However, the journey was peaceful, and no incidents occurred.
After nearly a month, Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and others arrived at Fengling Ferry first.
Zhou Yan had no leisure time during the journey. He escorted during the day and camped at night, practicing the Quanzhen Internal Energy cultivation technique. Benefiting from being able to absorb energy even while sleeping, his internal force grew daily. He pondered that after crossing the Yellow River, during the escort team’s encampments, he could try to temper and clear the Foot Shaoyin Kidney Meridian. Once successful, he would be able to leap as high as ten feet with a surge of energy.
The setting sun cast its glow, the clouds and mist burned like fire.
The north bank of the Yellow River at Fengling Ferry was a scene of bustling activity, with the braying of donkeys and neighing of horses, mixed with the sounds of people and carts. The season had entered winter. The Yellow River had not yet frozen over, and due to low water levels, the usual roaring waves were absent. It was a good time to cross the river.
“Neigh…” came the sound of a horse.
The white horse was like snow, the Wuzhui horse like charcoal.
Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei dismounted.
The two went to the ferry to inquire about the situation, while the horse team and escort team were more than ten li behind.
The largest inn in the town was called “An Du Old Inn,” named for the auspicious meaning of “safe passage.” This inn had spacious guest rooms and was crowded with merchants.
It would take at least a full day for the mules, horses, and escort carts to cross the river, so they had to book many guest rooms for the escorts to rest.
Zhou Yan and Huyan Lei handed the reins to the shop assistants and walked towards the inn. Northern merchants and southern traders, Hu people and distinguished guests, were all seen outside the inn. Out of professional instinct, the two looked around as they walked.
Huyan Lei’s gaze fell on a cart.
The cart had rolled-up banners tied to it. On either side of the cart, an iron spear and two short halberds made of fine iron were planted. A man and a woman, who appeared to be father and daughter, were tidying their belongings.
Zhou Yan also followed the escort’s gaze, and saw that the man was wearing coarse linen clothes, was broad-shouldered and burly, with a slightly hunched back, graying temples, and a face full of wrinkles, looking very distressed. The girl was dressed in bright clothes, about seventeen or eighteen years old, standing tall and graceful. Although her face showed signs of travel, she had bright eyes and white teeth, and a beautiful appearance.
Zhou Yan’s gaze shifted back to the cart, and he saw the rolled-up banners, the iron spear, and the short halberds.
His expression became strange.
Mu Yi, Mu Nianci.
Yang Tiexin, who had encountered the martial arts competition to recruit a husband in Zhongdu when the Golden Saber Consort traveled south, was now at Fengling Ferry.
If the timeline and story of the Legend of the Condor Heroes Jianghu had not been significantly altered, they should have crossed the river and lodged at the inn, and then traveled all the way to Daxing Prefecture.
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