In Hongwu, we started as rebels

Chapter 917 Subtle Clues Leading to a Deeper Understanding
The wind in Zhenjiangbao was stronger than usual.
The snow swirled around on the ground and stung my face like tiny knives.

Xu Cheng followed the soldiers toward the post station.
The soles of my boots sank into the frozen mud, each step filled with anxiety.

His mind was filled with news of the Jurchens entering the country.

The post station was located at the west end of the fort, in a simple mud-brick house.

The icicles hanging from the eaves were at least half a foot long.

The soldier lifted the curtain, and a wave of hot air mixed with the smell of coal smoke and sweat rushed out.

Xu Cheng bent down and went inside, and saw a man wearing a thick cotton-padded coat huddled in the corner.

His face was dark, his chin was covered in stubble, and his hands were wrapped in rags, his exposed knuckles red with cold.

He was holding a rough porcelain bowl, sipping hot soup.

"Manager Zhang, our master has arrived," a soldier called out as he stepped forward.

The man stood up abruptly, nearly dropping the bowl in his hand, spilling some hot soup onto his cotton-padded jacket.

He didn't even bother to wipe himself, and immediately bowed in greeting:

"This humble one, Zhang Laosan, greets Lord Xu!"

Xu Cheng waved his hand and walked to the table to sit down.

Xu Cheng glanced at Zhang Laosan and, seeing his appearance, realized he had clearly traveled a long way. He pointed to the stool opposite him:
"Sit down, don't be shy. I'm asking you, what news do you have?"

Zhang Laosan sat down, placing his hands on his knees, looking somewhat nervous.
"My lord, I came to Goryeo from Uiju last month. I originally wanted to buy some ginseng, but I didn't expect to hear about the war as soon as I arrived."

Initially, it was said that the Jurchens had invaded the territory.
It was only later that I learned they came from the Northeast and fought their way to Shun'an City.

What's even more astonishing lately is that they've reportedly inflicted a terrible defeat on Yi Seong-gye's army!

"What? Be more specific!"

Xu Cheng leaned forward slightly, his voice unconsciously rising.

"How many men? How did they fight? What's the situation with Yi Seong-gye's troops?"

Zhang Laosan swallowed hard and said slowly:
"I hid in an inn outside Yizhou City for two days."
I heard from passing soldiers that General Lu, who was originally in Suzhou, was defeated and all eight thousand of his men were wiped out.
Later, General Zhang of Yizhou was also defeated. He lost all his food supplies and siege equipment, and only a thousand or so men escaped back.

The people of Yizhou City are in a state of panic; many wealthy families are preparing to flee to our area.

"what?"

Xu Cheng's brows were furrowed, almost knotted together.

"Eight thousand people, five thousand people. How many Jurchens were there exactly?"

"They say there are tens of thousands, but I think that's just bragging. The initial figure of ten thousand was more believable."

Zhang Laosan's voice trembled slightly.

"According to the Goryeo soldiers who escaped, those Jurchens ran very fast, their armor was powerful, and they even carried firearms."

Yi Seong-gye was rallying his troops for a counterattack, declaring his intention to fight the Jurchens to the death.

In my opinion, this is all just bragging.

The elite troops of the two major cities in the Northwest Circuit have been defeated, leaving only the garrison of Dingzhou City without news; their fate should be sealed soon.

Xu Cheng's brows furrowed even more, and his heart skipped a beat.
Riding a fast horse, armed with muskets, and capable of winning with fewer troops.

This is not the Jurchen.
This is clearly Lord Lu's style!
But he couldn't understand how the number of people he brought in, which was only a thousand, could have increased to ten thousand.

Could it be that the Koreans are giving false military intelligence?

No, even if the Koreans were weak, a thousand of them couldn't achieve such a feat.

"Have you heard of the name of that Jurchen commander?"

Xu Cheng asked again, his tone tinged with urgency.

"I haven't heard of any specific name, I only know that the leader is a young general." Zhang Laosan thought for a moment and shook his head.

"That's it!" Xu Cheng felt a huge weight lifted off his shoulders; he was finally certain.

Although I don't know where Lord Lu got ten thousand men from,

However, if there are truly 10,000 people, they should be able to escape unscathed.

He breathed a sigh of relief, leaned back in his chair, and then realized that the armor was uncomfortable.

Most of the previous anxiety dissipated, leaving only shock.
His ability to maneuver and shift like this is becoming increasingly frightening; no one knows where he goes.

"Sir? What's wrong?"

Seeing that Xu Cheng hadn't spoken for a long time, Zhang Laosan noticed...

Thinking she had said something wrong, she asked cautiously.

"It's nothing." Xu Cheng waved his hand, a smile appearing on his face.

"Go on, what's the situation in Goryeo now? Is Yi Seong-gye preparing a counterattack?"

Zhang Laosan quickly said:
"How could that be? Koreans are all like that; they shrink back as soon as they lose a battle."

The people from Yiju are all fleeing.

Yi Seong-gye's troops were mostly pampered old men; it's already a miracle they didn't run away this time.

Xu Cheng nodded, feeling completely at ease.

As long as we can stabilize the situation, the rest will be easy.

He took out a silver ingot from his pocket and placed it on the table:

"Thank you for your hard work. Here's the money; consider it compensation for your journey."

"If you have any further news from Goryeo, please report it to me."

"Thank you, sir! Thank you, sir!"

If I hear any more news, I will come to inform you immediately!

Zhang Laosan's eyes lit up, and he quickly stood up to express his gratitude.

Xu Cheng had the soldiers escort Zhang Laosan out, while he stayed in the post station, staring at the rough porcelain bowl on the table, pondering how to end this matter.

After sitting for a while, he got up and walked out.

As soon as he lifted the curtain, a cold wind rushed in, making him shiver.

The sky was beginning to lighten, and the snow had stopped.

Xu Cheng took a deep breath and felt much lighter.

Knowing where the person is makes things easier; he can also make some arrangements.

Back in the temporary office,
Xu Cheng had just removed his armor when his personal guards rushed in:
"My lord! There's a man outside claiming to be from the Snowwalking Merchant Guild, named Shi Baifeng, requesting an audience."

They said they had something important to discuss with you and even brought a token!

"Ta Xue Trading Company? Shi Baifeng?" Xu Cheng was stunned for a moment, then realized what he meant.
"Please come in quickly!"

Before long, a young man wearing a dark blue brocade cotton robe walked in with his bodyguards.

He was in his early twenties, with a fair complexion and no beard, and his eyes revealed a sense of composure.

Holding a sandalwood box in her hands, she walked slowly.

"My name is Shi Baifeng. I greet Lord Xu."

The young man bowed respectfully, his voice clear and unhurried.

Xu Cheng looked him over and nodded:

"Are you from the Snowwalking Trading Company? What is your relationship with Shi Yu?"

"It is indeed my father." Shi Baifeng sat down, placed the sandalwood box on the table, and gently pushed it open.

"My lord, this is a token from my father, along with Lord Lu's warrant. Please take a look."

Xu Cheng leaned closer to look and saw an ivory token inside the box, engraved with the four characters "踏雪通商" (Trade Through Snow).
There is also a small seal, which is the official seal of the Northern Pacification Command.

That's right, they're one of our own.

"What brings you here today?" Xu Cheng asked, putting down the token.

"Reporting to Your Excellency, the manager of the merchant guild has sent word from Dingzhou."
Everything went smoothly on General Lu's side. The Goryeo royal family had already handed over 500,000 taels of silver, as well as provisions and warhorses.

According to the plan, the silver would be delivered in three batches by a caravan and would arrive at Zhenjiang Fort within ten days.

I have come here to ask for your assistance.
"This will allow the caravan to enter the country smoothly, avoiding unnecessary inspections." Shi Baifeng nodded, his expression becoming serious.

"Within ten days?" Xu Cheng's eyes widened.
"So fast?"

Immediately, he laughed happily.
"I hope everything goes well."

"With such a large amount of silver, is it safe on the road? How many people are in the caravan?"

Shi Baifeng said, "Don't worry, sir."

"The Snowwalking Merchant Guild's caravan consists of fifty people, all of whom are the guild's guards."
Everything has been arranged along the way; as long as Zhenjiang Fort doesn't obstruct us, there won't be any problems.

Xu Cheng nodded, then asked, "What do you need me to do when we enter the country? For example, a travel permit, or to send someone to meet us?"

"The customs clearance documents have been prepared by the merchant, and they are stamped with the seal of the Uiju Prefecture of Goryeo."

"Sir, you only need to instruct the guards to let the Taxue Trading Company's caravan pass directly, and the trading company's caravan will then escort them back to Daning City."

"That's easy," Xu Cheng readily agreed.
"I will have my trusted confidants prepare in advance to ensure the caravan's safe entry into the city."

"As for the other two caravans, I don't know who they are for the time being, but I imagine someone will contact you soon," Shi Baifeng paused, then added.

Xu Cheng was taken aback, then showed a hint of admiration:

"With such thorough preparations, I'll wait here! Does Lord Lu have any other instructions?"

"Only silver will be returned this time. Lord Lu will lead his troops through Goryeo territory, not through the border of the Ming Dynasty."

"Not going through the border?"

"They said they were afraid of causing unnecessary trouble for the Commander-in-Chief."
After all, those currently causing trouble within Goryeo's territory are publicly identified as Jurchens.

"Oh~" Xu Cheng looked enlightened, and then nodded repeatedly.

"Yes, yes, yes, look at my brain!"
The Jurchens should return to their own territory, not come to my Great Ming!

Xu Cheng stood up with a smile and patted Shi Baifeng on the shoulder:

"You've had a long and tiring journey. Go and rest for a while, and we can discuss the rest later."

"Thank you, sir." Shi Baifeng also stood up and bowed.
"There is one more thing I would like to confirm with you, sir."
This shipment of silver is of utmost importance; I urge you, sir, to be extremely cautious and absolutely ensure that no information is leaked.

"Don't worry, I'll have my personal guards replace the soldiers these days to ensure there are no oversights." Xu Cheng's expression turned serious.

"Then I'll leave this to you, sir. I'll take my leave now."

Xu Cheng smiled and said nothing more, instructing his guards to take Shi Baifeng to the post station to rest.

He remained in the office, staring at the map hanging on the wall, his finger hovering over the location of Uiju in Goryeo.

If you walk fast, it will take ten days to get from here to Zhenjiang Fort.

When the silver arrives, the money for road repairs will be secured, and Lord Pan will be able to give an explanation.

The sunlight outside the window grew brighter and brighter, making the office room warm and cozy.

Xu Cheng's mood also brightened, and the anxiety of the past few days vanished completely.

He walked to the table, picked up a pen, intending to deliver this good news back to Commander Pan.
But when it came time to put pen to paper, I hesitated again:

"Forget it. Secrets are the best policy, while leaks are the worst. The Commandery is full of leaks; we can't let them know."

Five days later, the afternoon in Zhenjiang Fort was still bitterly cold.

The northwest wind whipped up snowflakes, which lashed against the wooden fence, making a howling sound.

Centurion Zhao Wu wrapped his cotton armor tightly around himself, a thin layer of ice forming on the shaft of his spear.

He patrolled along the earthen wall of the pass, his gaze sweeping over the passing caravans.
Zhao Wu had been in Zhenjiang Fort for five years, making him a senior member of the staff. He was known for his meticulousness.
He'd felt something was off these past few days.

Ever since Lord Xu Cheng met that merchant from Goryeo, he seems to have completely changed.

Previously, he was always frowning and sighing.
But these past few days, not only has he started smiling, but he also frequently wanders around the border, his eyes always glancing towards the caravans.
Even her steps became much lighter.

"Commander, look over there, Lord Xu."

The soldier next to Zhao Wu nudged his arm and pointed to the pass not far away.

Zhao Wu looked in that direction and saw that Li Da, the captain of Lord Xu's personal guard, was leading more than a dozen guards to replace the soldiers on duty at the pass.

The soldiers who were relieved of their posts looked bewildered, muttering, "Why the sudden shift change?"
But Li Da glared at him, and he dared not say another word.

Zhao Wu's heart skipped a beat:
"Something's wrong."

"Lord Xu has been acting strangely these past few days, and changing his personal guards is even more suspicious! Come, follow me to see Commander Qian."

Commander Sun Dechang's tent was in the center of the fort, and it was more spacious than ordinary military tents.

A charcoal fire burned inside the tent, making it warm and cozy.

Sun Dechang was sitting at the table. When Zhao Wu came in, he didn't even look up.
"What is it? Can't you see I'm busy?"

Sun Dechang was nearly fifty years old, his face was full of wrinkles, but his eyes revealed a shrewdness.

He spent ten years in Zhenjiangbao, always wanting to climb the ranks.

But I never had the chance, and I was constantly burning with resentment.

"Lord Commander, there's something unusual happening with Lord Xu Cheng."

"Unusual movement?"

Sun Dechang finally raised his head, put down the roster in his hand,

"Lord Xu is here to inspect the border; what unusual activity could he possibly be causing?"

Zhao Wu leaned forward and lowered his voice:
“When I was on patrol just now, I saw that his personal guards had replaced all the soldiers guarding the pass with his own personal guards.”

Sun Dechang's eyes lit up, and he leaned forward slightly:
"What? Change the personal guards?"

"Yes!" Zhao Wu nodded.

Sun Dechang tapped his fingers on the table, lost in thought.

Xu Cheng was the Vice Commander-in-Chief of Liaodong, a higher-ranking official than him, so he shouldn't have interfered.
But the other side suddenly wants to change the guards, there must be something wrong here.

"What do you think he's trying to do?" Sun Dechang asked, a hint of excitement flashing in his eyes.

"I dare not speculate, but there are many good things in Korea. Could it be that they are planning to smuggle them?" Zhao Wu hesitated for a moment and said in a low voice.

"Smuggling?" Sun Dechang slammed his hand on the table, his eyes lighting up even more.
“That makes sense! When the Marquis of Runan was in power, he was involved in smuggling all the time. Who wouldn’t be envious of that money?”
Now that the adults are in charge, this business shouldn't have to stop!

The more Sun Dechang thought about it, the more he realized that Xu Cheng was right; he had long disliked Xu Cheng.

Xu Cheng has risen to a high position at a young age and has gained Lord Pan's trust; his future is limitless!
He himself is quite old and still hasn't been promoted.

If we can catch Xu Cheng smuggling this time and report it to Lord Zhou,

He might get promoted then.

He knew very well that the infighting within the military was fierce.

Someone had subtly reminded him to choose sides early, otherwise it would be strange if he were to be promoted, since he was so oblivious to what was going on around him.

Taking a deep breath, Sun Dechang said in a deep voice:
"Don't make a fuss yet. Send two trusted men to secretly keep an eye on the pass and see what Lord Xu is up to."

Remember, don't get caught. Report any news to me immediately!

"Yes!"

Zhao Wu bowed in response, then turned and quickly left.

Sun Dechang watched Zhao Wu's retreating figure with a meaningful expression.

He walked to the tent, lifted the curtain, and looked towards the pass. The cold wind hit his face, but he didn't feel cold at all.

Perhaps this is a rare opportunity, a chance for him to get promoted.

For the next two days, Zhao Wu's men kept a close watch on the pass.

There have been more caravans coming and going these past two days than usual.

Most of them came from Goryeo (Korea), saying they were fleeing, and they were carrying a lot of furs, ginseng, and cloth.

"Lord Commander, that's right!"

That night, Zhao Wu rushed to Sun Dechang's military tent, his face beaming with excitement.

"The caravan from the Snowwalking Merchant Guild entered the pass yesterday afternoon."
Lord Xu's personal guards didn't check carefully at all and let him pass directly!
Moreover, the caravan's wagons were exceptionally heavy; the ruts they left in the snow were deeper than those of grain carts, indicating they must have hidden a great deal of valuable goods inside!

Upon hearing this, Sun Dechang slammed down his teacup and stood up:

"Good! It really is smuggling. Do you have any evidence?"

Zhao Wu affirmed, "My two trusted confidants saw it, and several soldiers who were replaced can also testify!"

Sun Dechang nodded and immediately began writing the document.

The light from the oil lamp flickered on the paper, and his pen flew across the page, detailing everything about Xu Cheng.

He also specifically emphasized that "Lord Xu's behavior is abnormal and may harm the interests of the court."
Finally, he wrote his own name at the end and had Zhao Wu sign it as well.

Sun Dechang folded the document, put it into an envelope, and sealed it with sealing wax.
"Immediately send a reliable person by fast horse to deliver this document to Liaoyang and give it to Lord Zhou!"

Tell the messenger to deliver the letter personally to Lord Zhou; it must not pass through anyone else's hands!

"Yes!"

Zhao Wu took the envelope and turned to leave.

"Wait!" Sun Dechang called out to him, his eyes serious.

"This must not be known to anyone. If the news leaks out, neither of us will be in good trouble!"

"I understand!" Zhao Wu nodded solemnly and strode out.

Sun Dechang stood in the tent, watching the flickering flame of the oil lamp, a burning ambition flashing in his eyes.
(End of this chapter)