Chapter 39: Yellow River Water Ghost, Real and Fake Escorts
In the somewhat desolate courtyard, the withered climbing vines made dry, rustling sounds as the wind blew.
Frost lay on the blue tiles, and as the sun rose, water droplets ticked and dripped down the tiles.
The huge flesh tumor above Hou Tonghai’s forehead, the Three-Headed Flood Dragon, glinted. He held a bowl of wine and looked at the more than fifty Yellow River Water Ghosts before him, saying, “Horses don’t get fat without night fodder, and people don’t get rich without ill-gotten gains. After this job, you’ll all have enough to eat and drink for a whole year. I’ll say the important thing three times: don’t touch the escort carts carrying goods, and focus on the ferry boats with escorts on them.”
“Do you understand!”
“Understood, Lord Hou,” the Yellow River Gang Water Ghosts said noisily, holding their wine bowls.
More than ten people stood at the courtyard entrance, all subordinates of Peng Lianhu. The two leading them were disciples of the “Thousand Hand Butcher.” One was tall and burly, the other short and stout. The former was nicknamed “Iron Arms Arhat,” and the latter was called “Ground Rolling Tiger.” He was short, wielded two sabers, and was skilled in the Ground Rolling Saberplay and Monkey Fist.
“Ground Rolling Tiger” looked at the scene in the courtyard and said to “Iron Arms Arhat,” “I don’t think we’ll have any chance to fight.”
“Iron Arms Arhat” smiled and said, “The closer Hou Tonghai gets to the water, the sharper his mind becomes.”
“That’s true.”
As the two spoke about the “Three-Headed Flood Dragon,” Hou Tonghai inside the courtyard said, “After drinking this wine of merit, my sons will take heads on the Yellow River.”
“Hoo…”
Dozens of Yellow River Gang Water Ghosts shouted in unison, their momentum not insignificant.
“Ground Rolling Tiger” chuckled, “Quite ceremonial.”
“Indeed!”
The sound of gulping wine filled the air. Porcelain bowls were smashed, scattering into pieces. The Water Ghosts who smashed their wine bowls either carried daggers, water spears, or fishing nets with hooks, and swaggered out of the courtyard.
Ahead lay the Yellow River. Some boarded fishing boats, others headed straight for the boat company; their tasks were clearly defined.
Hou Haitong, Ground Rolling Tiger, and Iron Arms Arhat boarded a fishing boat and headed downstream directly for Fengling Ferry.
…
With a whistling neigh, Qingcong Horses, Wuzhui Horses, and the Night-Shining Jade Lion arrived at the ferry crossing.
Zhang Wangyue, Huyan Lei, and Zhou Yan saw off Yang Tiexin and Mu Nianci. The three of them, along with the escorts who had arrived at the inn the night before, had eaten breakfast. The Head Escort had brought the two of them ahead.
Seen clearly in the daylight, the Yellow River in Zhou Yan’s eyes was not a turbulent, muddy torrent but much clearer than he had imagined, and the water looked calm.
Zhang Wangyue gazed at the Yellow River, silent for a long time. Huyan Lei couldn’t help but say, “Is the Head Escort thinking about when all the escort goods can cross the river?”
“I’m thinking of Elder Zong. When he was on his deathbed, he didn’t say a word about his family, but was constantly thinking of the Northern Expedition. In the end, he called out three times: ‘Cross the river, cross the river, cross the river!'”
Huyan Lei showed deep respect.
Zhou Yan felt a pang of emotion. He knew this piece of history, and Zong Ze had been like a mentor to Yue Fei. The Head Escort’s ancestor was Zhang Xian of the Yue Family Army, so it was natural for him to be moved by the scene.
The sound of steady horse hooves came from behind. Escorts Wang Kui and Shi Baichuan arrived.
Wang Kui said, “Head Escort, the escort carts have already arrived.”
Zhang Wangyue asked, “Brother Wang, you’ve killed Yellow River Gang members on the Yellow River before, haven’t you?”
“Yes!” Wang Kui nodded. “Is the Head Escort wary of the Yellow River Gang?”
“When crossing the Yellow River, why wouldn’t one be wary of them? They even dare to rob the imperial court’s large boats. When the escort team set off, didn’t Brother Zhou also mention the Yellow River? Most of the safety of this escort mission depends on crossing the river. So, before crossing, I’ll have people patrol and observe.”
Zhou Yan suddenly asked, “Does the Head Escort know how to swim?”
Zhang Wangyue smiled, “I’m a landlubber.”
“Me too!” Huyan Lei added.
“I don’t either,” Shi Baichuan said.
Wang Kui said, “I’m alright. If we really encounter danger, I can handle two or three Water Ghosts.”
Huyan Lei joked, “When we cross the river, we must split up. If we all get on one boat and encounter the Yellow River Gang, we’ll be wiped out. Then, without a leader, the runners will be at their mercy.”
Zhou Yan smiled, “I actually have an idea.”
Huyan Lei quickly said, “Tell us quickly.”
“If there are indeed those with ill intentions, they will definitely attack the escorts on the water first, and then rob the escort. So, the escorts can disguise themselves as runners. Then, have the runners disguise themselves as escorts and gather at the ferry crossing to direct the crossing. We can make several trips back and forth, and it’s unlikely to attract attention. Once the horses are across, we can change back.”
Huyan Lei’s eyes lit up, “Great idea!”
Shi Baichuan said, “Isn’t this being overly cautious?”
Zhang Wangyue looked at Zhou Yan with an appreciative expression. “Caution is the mother of safety. It’s a very good suggestion. Brothers, change into runners’ clothes with the other escorts and follow me to the ferry crossing.”
“Alright!” Zhou Yan and the others nodded.
…
Under the warm early winter sun, the young master who wanted to buy the “Night-Shining Jade Lion” changed his attire to a blue straight robe. He looked at the group on horseback, his gaze falling on Zhou Yan, scrutinizing him, and finally settling on the fine horse.
Not long after, the young master saw Zhou Yan and the others leave. Time passed, and the escorts reappeared at the same spot.
The young master exclaimed, “Huh?” and muttered to himself, “Why have they all changed? The horses are still the same horses.”
He was intelligent and recalled overhearing the Yellow River Gang’s plan to rob the escort the night before. He suddenly realized, “Swapping the beams and pillars! Who came up with this idea? It’s truly clever.”
Thinking this, the young master’s curiosity was greatly piqued, feeling a sense of a worthy opponent and a talented peer.
The swarming escort team arrived at this moment. Zhou Yan, Huyan Lei, and the others had already changed into runners’ clothes, wearing gray flat-top hats, sturdy jackets, and thousand-layered sole shoes.
Zhang Wangyue glanced at them, a smile on his face, and waved, “Cross the river!”
With these words, the Head Escort led a group of disguised escorts straight to the ferry crossing. They chose the older runners, who, having fulfilled their escort dreams, were all spirited and performed convincingly. With full swagger, they followed the Head Escort to the ferry crossing. The shopkeeper, who had been waiting, was trembling inwardly, but years of business experience had given him the ability to remain composed. He steadied his nerves, stepped forward attentively to greet Zhang Wangyue and the others, and then summoned the boatmen to prepare for ferrying.
Zhou Yan, having recently become an escort from a runner, was the most familiar with the procedures. When the escort carts arrived at the ferry crossing, the mules and horses were unburdened. He was the first to push an escort cart onto the ferry boat via the ramp.
After setting down the cart, he leaped onto the wharf and, smiling, helped Huyan Lei and Wang Kui, who were a bit clumsy, with their tasks.
The young master watched this scene intently from within the crowd. Although Zhou Yan wore a flat-top hat, he was close enough to see clearly. Soon, he noticed something amiss. He realized that these escorts were all revolving around the horses’ owner, and perhaps the idea had come from him.
The young master seemed to have discovered something extremely interesting, his playful spirit ignited.
The boat company had eight boats. They first ferried the escort carts, then the mules pulling the carts, and finally the more than two hundred horses.
Under the gaze of the young master, Zhang Wangyue, and the others, the ferry boats shuttled back and forth. Zhou Yan, who was skilled in archery, and Wang Kui, who was a good swimmer, made multiple trips.
On a fishing boat not far from the ferry crossing, Hou Tonghai tugged at the tumor on his forehead and cursed loudly:
“Damn it, why haven’t those escorts gotten on the boat yet?”
Peng Lianhu’s disciple, “Ground Rolling Tiger,” was also growing impatient, but he said, “Lord Hou, why don’t you ask them?”
Hou Tonghai abruptly stood up, about to rush out of the boat’s canopy in anger.
The two were greatly alarmed. One locked his leg, the other grabbed his arm, pulling Hou Tonghai back.
The young master on the shore saw everything. He thought mischievously, and then shouted, “If the Yellow River Gang doesn’t make a move soon, the escort agency people will have already crossed the river.” Those three-headed fellows would probably be furious and spit blood.
