In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 739 Kaifeng, the ancient capital of seven dynasties, and Zhuxian Town!

Kaifeng, Henan, has been the capital of seven dynasties since the Xia Dynasty, from Emperor Zhu to Emperor Qin.

Throughout the entire world, only Xi'an and Luoyang, the ancient capitals of thirteen dynasties, can compare.

Even now, Yingtian can only barely keep pace with it.

After the Song and Yuan dynasties, Kaifeng lost its heritage as an ancient imperial capital.

The main reasons include the deterioration of the geographical environment, the shift of the political center, and the southward shift of the economic center.

The main reason for this is the flooding of the Yellow River.

Kaifeng is located in the lower reaches of the Yellow River. The siltation of the Yellow River has caused the riverbed to rise continuously, making it almost a suspended river above ground.

Before the Hongwu reign, there were more than thirty recorded instances of the Yellow River breaching its banks.

Frequent floods rendered Kaifeng unsafe as a capital city.

During the Yuan Dynasty, the imperial court rebuilt the Grand Canal, straightening its course and eliminating the need for it to pass through Kaifeng.
Instead, they took the route through Shandong and Jiangsu.
As a result, Kaifeng gradually lost its status as a water conservancy hub, and the city's fortunes declined drastically.

Although Kaifeng can no longer maintain the large-scale canal transport of the Northern Song Dynasty,
However, some small-scale shipping can still be carried out.

Thanks to this shipping route, Kaifeng continued to thrive in the Ming Dynasty's trade, far surpassing more than 90% of the cities in the Ming Dynasty.

At this moment, after being dredged in the fifth year of the Hongwu reign, some waterways still see a high volume of ships coming and going.

A merchant ship marked "Wanbao" slowly arrived at the port of Zhuxian Town via the Cai River.

The enormous dock was packed with moored ships, and the dock was teeming with people.

As soon as we stopped, a wave of noisy heat hit us.

Chen Jingyi stood at the bow of the boat, holding a telescope.
He gazed solemnly at the more than thirty merchant ships queuing up ahead, ready to enter the port.

Most of these merchant ships were small, like the ones they were traveling on.
There weren't many people on board, ranging from a dozen or so to a hundred or so.

As they approached the port, everyone on the ship came out to get some fresh air, standing on the deck of the merchant ship, enjoying the gentle breeze in the air, their faces full of contentment.

Chen Jingyi, however, did not have such a desire for enjoyment.
He understood the importance of the "goods" better than anyone else.

After leaving Beiping, in order to avoid being tracked down,

They would change their business name in each city they visited in order to conceal their whereabouts.

The journey was filled with anxiety, and I couldn't sleep well at night.
At this moment, looking at the sea of ​​people in front of me,
Chen Jingyi felt the hairs on his body stand on end.
There were so many people that he could tell from their appearance alone that they were a mixed bag.
They can also discover informants of unknown origin.

Chen Jingyi continued looking through the telescope and asked calmly:

"Manager Sun, could we change to another port? There are too many people here."

Beside him stood a middle-aged man in his forties.
He was not tall, had an honest-looking face, and his small eyes revealed a shrewdness.

He was a manager of a merchant house under the Prince of Yan's command, and also a trusted confidant, who was now assigned to follow him.

Although he didn't know what the goods were.
But something that the Prince of Yan's mansion would value so highly must be something extraordinary.

He was also very respectful to the adults around him:
"Lord Chen, the requirements for other ports under the supervision of the Grand Canal transport authorities are much stricter."
Because there are few ships coming and going, the inspections need to be particularly thorough, and the cost is also significantly higher.
In Zhuxian Town, because there are so many boats, it's not necessary to inspect every single one. Otherwise, how many boats could be moored in a day?
Although there are more people here, it's safe enough.

Chen Jingyi turned around and saw behind their merchant ship,
And a steady stream of merchant ships continued to arrive, roughly estimated to be several dozen.

In this situation, further inspection would be cutting off their livelihood, and the river management department wouldn't be that stupid.

Chen Jingyi let out a long sigh, a hint of worry on his face:

"Hope everything goes well."

Manager Sun smiled:

"Lord Chen, although I do not know what is being transported, I do know how heavy it is."

Logically speaking, traveling from Beiping to Kaifeng by land should be much faster.

We've already gone the other way and traveled by water; we're safe."

It's always good to be cautious.
If the dockworkers ask for money later, Manager Sun, don't be stingy.

As long as everything is calm and peaceful, everything is negotiable.

"Don't worry, Lord Chen, everything is ready."

Manager Sun took out a small cloth bag from his pocket and weighed it in his hand:
"This river management office has always been known for its officials who are easy to deal with, but difficult to deal with their underlings."

Sun had been in business for many years and was already very familiar with dealing with them.

Chen Jingyi nodded and waved his hand behind him, signaling the various "jobs" on the deck to disperse and observe.

Taking advantage of this opportunity, Xu Cheng, the commander of the 30,000 guards who had been hiding in the cabin, slowly walked out.

He was dressed in a plain linen shirt and gray trousers, with black and gray cloth shoes, looking like a caravan worker.

When he saw the vast, blue sky, he held his breath.

Such a deep blue sky and incomparably white clouds,
Even in the summer of 30,000 Wei, it is difficult to see.

Especially after experiencing such a thrilling ordeal,

He had long yearned for the sky, because it gave him a sense of freedom.

He walked to the bow of the boat, and Chen Jingyi made way for him, and the two stood side by side.

Chen Jingyi lowered his voice:
"Lord Xu, there are too many people and too many eyes here, it would be best if you showed yourself less."

Xu Cheng didn't answer immediately. Instead, he touched his newly applied sideburns and asked, with a slightly teasing tone:
"Look at me like this, would you still recognize me?"

"Of course not."

Chen Jingyi was very confident in his disguise skills.

As a seasoned coroner, preserving a dignified appearance for the deceased is an essential skill to learn.

Back then, it was with this skill of disguise that she repeatedly entered and exited government offices in various places in search of her son's whereabouts.

"Lord Xu, although your appearance has been changed..."

But we are both soldiers.
Long-standing habits will become apparent, especially when we're standing together.

Xu Cheng was taken aback, his tense body relaxed instantly, and his straight back became slightly hunched.

"Yes, that's it. Don't stand with your feet side by side; one foot in front of the other."
Don't raise your chin too high, keep it lower.

Now that we're merchants, we need to look up to people and be a bit more reserved in our attitude.

Following Chen Jingyi's instructions, Xu Cheng did as he was told, and his demeanor quickly changed.

He was burly and had a fierce appearance, but he always seemed to have endured a lot of hardship.

Xu Cheng looked at the reflection on the river and exclaimed in admiration:

"Lord Chen, your skills are truly amazing. I hardly recognize myself."

Chen Jingyi simply smiled slightly:

"It's because Lord Xu learns so quickly; if he didn't have the aptitude..."
Even when food is fed to them, they can't eat it.

Nowadays, only a handful of people in the military can freely alter their temperament, and they're all on the ships.

Xu Cheng's expression turned serious, and he sighed.

"I have caused trouble for the Commander, making Lord Chen escort you all this way."

"What kind of talk is this? We soldiers are here to obey orders without question."

"Just obey orders and do military duties; there's no such thing as trouble or inconvenience."

Chen Jingyi pointed ahead as he spoke:

"It's our turn now, be careful."

"Um"

Xu Cheng looked ahead and saw two more ships, which were their "Wanbao" merchant ships.

In less than a quarter of an hour, the merchant ship slowly drifted forward and docked next to the raised platform of the pier.

The two officials successfully boarded the merchant ship via the raised platform.

Manager Sun greeted him with practiced ease:

"Gentlemen, it's you two again! Thank you for your hard work!"

As he spoke, Manager Sun subtly grabbed one of the people's hands.
He handed over the money pouch, smiling as he said:

"The last time I saw you was in winter, when the river was frozen over."
When we met again, spring had arrived and flowers were in full bloom; I was overjoyed.

The middle-aged clerk smiled and withdrew his hand, casually squeezed it, and nodded with great satisfaction.

"What's on the ship? Where did it come from?"

"They came from Beiping, and they were transporting furs."

"If we don't hurry and send them to Jiangnan for processing while they're out of season, they won't make it in time for this winter."

Manager Sun followed the two men, speaking with a smile. The two clerks walked and stopped on the deck, looking left and right.
After watching for a while, an older clerk waved his hand and shouted at Manager Sun.

"Alright, hurry up and dock. You'll only stay for three days at most. Get out of here within three days."

"Yes, sir, I know the rules. I'll leave as soon as the supplies are replenished."

"Okay, I'm leaving."

The two reached the bow of the boat, climbed over the railing, and returned to the original platform.

With a gentle wave of his hand, the official holding the command flag stood on the high platform and waved it quickly, signaling the ships to pass.

The merchant ship "Wanbao" successfully entered Zhuxian Town and was able to dock at the port.

But Manager Sun, who had just been chatting and laughing with the clerk, came to Chen Jingyi's side with some unease:

"Sir, something's not right."

Chen Jingyi's heart jumped into his throat:
"What's wrong?"

Manager Sun frowned, deep in thought:
"When I came to Kaifeng in the past..."
These officials are more than happy for us to stay here and spend more money.

Why is it only a three-day break now? Are they trying to force people out?

Upon hearing this, Chen Jingyi immediately realized that something was wrong.

He was the commander of the Central Guard of Qingzhou, and those merchant caravans that traded with the north...
He wished they could stay in Qingzhou and spend all their money before leaving, and he would never kick them out.

"Don't panic, ask carefully after we dock."

Manager Sun nodded:
“There are some places to eat and stay in the port, but the news there is the most chaotic. I will send someone to inquire.”

Half an hour later, Manager Sun rushed back.
Seeing his appearance, Chen Jingyi's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly asked:

"what happened?"

Manager Sun's voice was urgent:

"My lord, something terrible has happened! A few days ago, the upstream floods caused several dikes to breach. The imperial court has sent a new flood control official, who is currently in Kaifeng."

Rumor has it that heavy rains are coming in a few days, and this place might even breach its banks!

"what?"

Chen Jingyi frowned, his eyes suddenly filled with panic:

"Is a major flood coming?"

That's what everyone's saying, but only the authorities probably know the real story.

Manager Sun, looking uneasy, reminded him:

"Sir, I just went to check."

The ships that are leaving the port have already started queuing up, so let's leave early too.

"If we don't leave soon, the flood will definitely trap us here."

Chen Jingyi, a native of Qingzhou in northern Xinjiang, had never witnessed the Yellow River truly raging. He tentatively asked:

"What would happen if there really was a major flood?"

Upon hearing this, Manager Sun was stunned.
A flicker of fear crossed his eyes, and he spoke in a trembling voice:
"My lord, I experienced a breach ten years ago, in Zhongmu."

It was raining from the sky and water was gushing from the ground, just like the houses on both sides, which were about to be wiped over.

A wave comes crashing in, sweeping away everything, whether it's cattle, sheep, people, or houses.

Last time, the boat the little man was on was capsized by a wave, and he survived only by clinging tightly to a plank.

In short, no one can escape flooding.

"Sir, we need to leave soon!"

Seeing his growing anxiety, Chen Jingyi realized the seriousness of the situation and nodded repeatedly.

"Hurry up and resupply, we're leaving tomorrow!"

"to make!"

Manager Sun breathed a sigh of relief. He looked up at the clear blue sky and thought to himself:

"Don't let it rain, please don't let it rain."

Just as the entire caravan was going full steam ahead and getting busy,
Inside the canal transport office in Zhuxian Town, Tang Xingbang paced back and forth with his hands behind his back, his face extremely grave. He would occasionally look up at the time, his anxiety growing.

The room he was in was very simple.
Although it had all kinds of tables, chairs, and benches, it was a far cry from the extravagant lifestyle of the past.

Tang Xingbang became even more agitated whenever he saw the condition of the house.

It's been three days!
He's been in Kaifeng for three days! And still hasn't found any trace of the goods!

Just then, footsteps sounded from outside the door, followed by a steady voice:

"It's me, open the door."

Tang Xingbang's eyes lit up, and he quickly walked over, unlatched the door, and opened the door.

A tall figure entered, in his thirties, with a handsome appearance.
At this moment, clad in the armor of a thousand-household commander, he exudes an extraordinary aura.

Tang Xingbang couldn't wait to ask:
"How's Jingye doing? Any news yet?"

The visitor was Tang Jingye, the eldest son of Marquis Tang Shengzong of Yan'an.
He seemed somewhat excited and said in a deep voice:

"Cousin, don't worry, the news of the potential flooding has already spread."
Those merchant ships have been eager to leave these past few days, and our people are checking them one by one!

Tang Xingbang's previously cheerful demeanor suddenly vanished:

"We still haven't found it."

"Cousin, don't worry, it's still a long way from here to Yingtian."
As long as they travel by water, they have no chance of missing it.

Compared to Tang Xingbang, Tang Jingye appeared much more optimistic and offered words of comfort.

Tang Xingbang was furious to see that he was still so optimistic.

He suddenly stood up and paced back and forth in the room:
"The reason I'm so anxious is because I'm unsure whether people will travel by land or water."

The Luohua Trading Company disappeared as soon as it left Beiping and reached Zhuozhou.

Finding someone now is like looking for a needle in a haystack.
"If, if they manage to reach the capital successfully, we're all finished."

Tang Jingye's expression also turned serious after hearing this:
"Cousin, we have more people on the land route; they can't escape."
Moreover, caravans travel slowly; it would take at most ten days to travel from Beiping to Kaifeng.
There's still time; they might not even have arrived in Kaifeng yet.

Despite saying that, Tang Xingbang's mood did not improve.

He knew what Tang Jingye was thinking.
If such a dangerous thing were done in Kaifeng, they would certainly be implicated.

Therefore, it is understandable that Tang Jingye did not want to find anyone or wanted others to do it.

But he's different. As long as things aren't resolved, he can't escape responsibility no matter where he is.
To be fair, he hopes this matter will be resolved as soon as possible.

Taking a deep breath, Tang Xingbang spoke in a deep voice:
"You're so dedicated! Think again, is there any other way?"
The sooner we find them, the sooner these days of anxiety will end.

Tang Jingye's face darkened, and the teacup he had just picked up stopped in front of him, a shadow of gloom flashing in his eyes.

After thinking for a long time, he sighed deeply:
“Cousin, lying about the flood situation is an unforgivable crime.”

The officials sent by the imperial court are still in Henan.
When the news reaches their ears, they'll probably rush over without stopping.

If they find the Yellow River is calm then, the authorities will be in a difficult position to explain themselves.

"Jingye, you need to understand what we're doing!"
If we hesitate and look back now, none of us will end up well!

Tang Xingbang suddenly stood up, hissing in a low voice, his eyes bloodshot:
"Accelerating the clearing of the ships isn't enough; could we board them under the pretext of flood prevention inspections?"
We should check each ship one by one; that's the only way to be safe.

Tang Jingye wasn't angry about the change in his attitude; he simply sighed softly.
"Cousin, the Grand Canal Administration isn't just ruled by Lord Ma alone; there's Lord Wei above him too."

If I go too far, it will be difficult to explain.

"An explanation. Another explanation."

Tang Xingbang was furious, his breathing heavy.
He didn't understand why, at such a critical moment, he was still thinking about giving instructions!

Seeing that his expression was very bad, Tang Jingye pursed his lips and softened his tone slightly:
“Cousin, don’t worry. I’ll go talk to Lord Ma later and see if I can board the ship for inspection.”

"If it's possible, all my men may board the ship; I can trust my own men to check them."

"Then please hurry up and get it done, I've been feeling restless and can't sleep well lately."

Tang Jingye finished his tea in one gulp, stood up, and laughed:

"Cousin, I'll arrange for you tonight to see the top courtesan at Haixing Tower. You can relieve your pent-up desires. Don't worry too much."

With so many adults watching, the child can't run away.

Tang Xingbang's lips twitched, his face stiff.

"Hopefully."

(End of this chapter)