Taichang Ming Dynasty

Chapter 786 Uninvited Guest

Following Sun Chengzong through the ceremonial gate and around the screen wall, the group soon came to a spacious reception room. In the center of the room was a dark brown eight-immortal table, behind which were two south-facing rosewood armchairs. Behind the armchairs stood a screen painted with pine trees and cranes symbolizing longevity. On both sides were pearwood chairs, and the floor was covered with a dark-patterned carpet. A faint sandalwood fragrance permeated the air.

Sun Chengzong entered first, then turned to Gao Shiming and gestured for him to come in: "Eunuch Gao, please come in."

Gao Shiming politely returned the greeting before walking over to Sun Chengzong's side. The two walked side by side to the main seats behind the octagonal table and sat down on either side.

After the two men sat down, Shen Zhengping, along with the civil officials from the Provincial Governor's Office and the military officials from the Tianjin Garrison, took their seats in the second row on the left. Pang Tianshou and Fang Zhenghua, on the other hand, took their seats in the second row on the right.

There were still many empty seats beside Pang and Fang, clearly prepared by the Imperial Household Department for other eunuchs. However, although the other eunuchs who followed them in all had ranks, they were all honorary officials like Fengyu and Changsui, who held titles but no real positions. They were very self-disciplined and none of them went up to sit down, but instead stood silently behind Pang and Fang, adopting the posture of followers.

For a moment, no one spoke in the hall; only the soft rustling of leaves in the wind could be heard outside. A short while later, several young men dressed in blue yamen runners' uniforms entered carrying trays. On the trays were celadon teacups and plates of delicate pastries—osmanthus cake, almond shortbread, and Tianjin's local specialty, Erduoyan fried cake. The runners quietly poured tea for everyone, arranged the pastries, bowed, and withdrew without making a sound.

After the constables left, Sun Chengzong turned to look at Gao Shiming. His first words, as usual, were an inquiry about the Emperor's well-being: "Eunuch Gao has come from afar; you must be tired from your journey. I wonder how His Majesty is doing lately?"

Upon hearing this, Gao Shiming immediately turned to look at Sun Chengzong, placed his hands together in front of him, and solemnly bowed towards the direction of the capital in the north. "Heaven protects the wise ruler, and earth blesses the holy monarch. With the protection of heaven and earth, His Majesty's health will naturally be safe. Please do not worry, Your Excellency."

"That's good, that's good." Sun Chengzong nodded slightly in relief, a genuine smile on his face. He then asked, "Where are the three eunuchs sent out by His Majesty to perform their duties? If there is anything that can be of use to us, please feel free to ask."

"Hehe. With these words from Vice Minister Sun, I am relieved." Gao Shiming withdrew his hand, picked up his teacup, and took a sip. "We came here this time specifically for Tianjin. Deputy Director Pang is here to review the construction and operation of the Imperial Household Department in Tianjin and the new port area. Inspector Fang is here to assist Deputy Director Pang and to investigate any misconduct by the stationed officials, including abuse of power, interference in local government and military affairs, and even corruption and dereliction of duty. As for me," he paused, put down his teacup, "I am going to the Beitang and Dagu areas to check on the construction progress of the Tianjin New Port, and also to discuss future business with those European merchants in order to prepare for the establishment of a customs office."

"I see." Sun Chengzong nodded in understanding. He was considering how to tactfully inquire about the details from the various officials when Gao Shiming suddenly spoke up, saying, "Minister Sun, I have long heard that you have a 'strong-willed magistrate' by your side who is upright and dares to withhold unpaid funds. May I ask which one is it?"

"What Eunuch Gao said?" Sun Chengzong paused slightly, a thoughtful look flashing in his eyes. "Could it be that Lu Shan is succeeding Manager Lu?"

“That’s right, that’s right. It’s Manager Lu! Ever since I heard about his deeds two years ago, I’ve wanted to meet him and ask him for some guidance, but unfortunately I haven’t been able to find the opportunity.” Gao Shiming nodded repeatedly, his gaze sweeping around the hall.

“I’m afraid Eunuch Gao will be disappointed.” Sun Chengzong shook his head with a helpless expression. “Master Lu is not here.”

"Oh? May I ask why?" Gao Shiming asked.

“A few days ago, Cangzhou was flooded, and the Hutuo River overflowed, encroaching on the Weiyun River and silting up the canal,” Sun Chengzong explained. “Although the Cangzhou government immediately organized manpower to dredge the canal, to ensure safety, this court still sent him to supervise the inspection.”

"Oh dear, the weather is not cooperating." Gao Shiming's face immediately showed a regretful expression, and he sighed softly: "It seems that I can only wait for another opportunity to meet with Manager Lu in the future."

“Hehe.” Sun Chengzong chuckled softly, half comforting and half probing, “Eunuch Gao, there’s no need to be too disappointed. The disaster in Cangzhou is not serious and is not a big deal. At most, Chief Lu will be back in half a month. The three of you are serving in Tianjin and will probably need to stay on the ground for a while. When he returns, I will host a banquet and invite the three of you to have a good chat with him.”

"Then thank you very much, Vice Minister Sun!" Gao Shiming didn't understand any of the extra meaning and immediately bowed to express his gratitude.

“You’re too kind, Eunuch Gao. It’s just a small matter, why be so formal?” Sun Chengzong smiled and waved his hand, saying, “But what about the three of you? Do you have a plan for your upcoming schedule? If you need any manpower, documents, or transportation, please let us know as soon as possible. That way, we won’t delay your business.”

After a moment's thought, Gao Shiming said, "We've just arrived in Tianjin, so we're not in a hurry to finalize any detailed plans. In the next few days, we plan to explore Zhongwei. First, we want to check on the current state of the canal transport, and second, we'd like to visit the various markets and neighborhoods to observe the daily lives of ordinary people and the business activities. If possible, we'd also like to visit the canal widening project site to see how the construction is progressing. We'll also check if there are enough manpower and materials. After we've had a quick look around, we'll head east to Tanggu and go to the Xinhang Wharf."

Sun Chengzong listened attentively, his eyes occasionally glancing at Gao Shiming, Pang Tianshou, and Fang Zhenghua. After Gao Shiming finished speaking, he smiled and continued, "Very well! If the three eunuchs have seen it, it's as if the Emperor has seen it too. It just so happens that I also plan to inspect the dredging project site of the canal tomorrow. If the three eunuchs have no other arrangements, why don't we go together? It will save us from having to make a special trip later."

"No, we have no arrangements! Even if we did have arrangements, we would make room for the Censor!" Gao Shiming agreed enthusiastically, then turned to look at Pang Tianshou and Fang Zhenghua.

Pang Tianshou and Fang Zhenghua immediately understood and echoed each other.

“Alright,” Sun Chengzong clapped his hands and said, “it’s settled then!”

--------

While the people in the joint office were having a lively conversation, the wooden door of the Weaving Hall not far away was gently pushed open.

The person who entered was a young man of about fifteen or sixteen years old. He had a handsome face, red lips and white teeth, and a clean-shaven chin without a single stubble, clearly indicating that he was not yet twenty. In his hand, he held a folding fan with ebony ribs, on which was painted a light ink orchid, and a small lapis lazuli pendant was tied to the handle. He wore a clean and crisp black straight-cut robe, with fine dark cloud patterns embroidered on the collar and cuffs. A delicate embroidered spring knife hung at his left waist, its scabbard jet black and its handle neatly bound with rope, clearly not an ordinary item.

The young man strode into the hall, his gaze quickly sweeping across the entire study. At this moment, there were no other guests in the front hall; only the faint scent of ink and paper filled the air. The young man walked straight to the counter, put his hands behind his back, leaned slightly forward, and sized up the person behind the counter.

Behind the counter, Chen San'er was about the same age as the young man, with only a thin layer of mustache on his lips, but his face was dark from years of sun exposure. He wore a slightly worn blue cloth shirt, and in front of him was a collection of folk songs entitled "Childhood Fool's Song: Hanging Branches".

Seeing that Chen San'er was simply dressed and had ink stains on his hands, the young man concluded that he was just a shop assistant. He went straight to the point and asked, "Where is your manager?"

Chen San'er had looked up when the young man entered, and was now secretly sizing him up: "Replying to the guest, my manager is upstairs discussing business with a customer. If you want to buy books, I can introduce some to you—whether it's classics, histories, philosophical works, newly printed vernacular stories, or the latest official gazettes, we have them all in our shop. Which type would you like to read?"

The young man ignored that question and instead looked towards the staircase leading to the second floor. A small wooden sign hanging on a pillar at the top of the stairs read "No Disturbance, Please," but he seemed not to notice it and continued, "Who is your manager talking to? What are they discussing?"

Chen San'er's heart skipped a beat—this pretentious fellow was asking such detailed questions; he didn't seem to be there to buy books, but rather to inquire about something. He began to suspect that the other party might be someone from the palace, after all, Manager Bai had told him to be careful yesterday and not to go to the post station unnecessarily.

Chen San'er wasn't sure, and he didn't want to risk revealing his identity by probing recklessly. He could only calm himself down and ask with a smile, "Sir, it seems you've come here specifically to see our manager?"

“That’s right, I’m an old friend of your Manager Bai,” the young man nodded readily. “I came to Tianjin on a business trip this time, so I took the opportunity to catch up with him.”

Chen San'er's suspicions deepened, but he remained outwardly calm, simply bowing in agreement with the other man's words: "Oh, so you're a friend of the shopkeeper. My apologies. Shopkeeper Bai is currently discussing the matter of publishing a book with a scholar surnamed Qi. They've been talking for quite some time and should be finishing soon. If you're not in a hurry, please sit in the guest seats here for a while and look at the books on the shelves. I'll have someone bring you a bowl of tea to help you relax." As he spoke, he waved his hand towards the guest seats in the hall, where there were two square tables and several long benches, with a small porcelain vase with reeds on each table.

The young man pondered for a moment, then smiled and nodded. "Alright, then I'll wait a bit." With that, he closed his folding fan, left the counter, and headed towards the bookshelves.

--------

Time flowed quietly within the hall amidst the fragrance of ink and the chirping of cicadas. After about 45 minutes, a series of slow, deliberate footsteps finally echoed from the stairwell. Chen San'er, behind the counter, and the young man holding a book in the guest seat, almost simultaneously looked up and their gazes fell upon the stairwell.

Shopkeeper Bai, dressed in a straight linen robe and holding a roll of Xuan paper, led a man in a blue scholar's robe down the stairs. The man had a handsome face and a light mustache; he was Qi Biaojia, the scholar who had discussed publishing the book with Shopkeeper Bai. Both men wore gentle smiles, clearly having had a very congenial conversation. They occasionally exchanged whispered words, their conversation filled with discussions of meticulous details.

Chen San'er didn't remind Manager Bai that an "old friend" was waiting, but quickly glanced at where the young man was. The young man didn't get up to go forward either, and even withdrew his gaze from the stairwell, returning it to the book in front of him.

The young man's fingertips seemed to be casually turning the pages of the book, but if you looked closely, you would find that his gaze was not on the words, but rather he was quietly watching the movements of Manager Bai and Qi Biaojia.

Manager Bai led Qi Biaojia past the guest seating area, his gaze casually sweeping over the young man—the young man was impeccably dressed, possessed a composed demeanor, and carried a rather beautiful decorative knife, clearly not an ordinary person. However, he was currently busy finalizing the details of the engraving with Qi Biaojia and didn't pay much attention: "Young Master Qi, rest assured, our workshop can produce the layout and paper you requested according to your requirements. If you and Master Qi are going to the capital before the sample arrives, we can also send someone to deliver the sample to you there."

"Thank you for your trouble, Manager Bai." Qi Biaojia smiled and shook his head. "I was just talking about my father's matter, and even if he comes, I don't necessarily have to go back to the capital with him."

"Hehehe, that's true, that's true," Manager Bai chuckled in agreement. "In any case, we'll do as you wish. Just remember to send someone to let us know before you leave."

The two talked as they walked toward the door, their footsteps fading into the distance.

The young man sat silently in the guest seat until Manager Bai turned back. Only then did he slowly stand up, pick up the embroidered spring knife beside him, and speak in Manager Bai's direction: "Manager Bai."

Shopkeeper Bai looked in the direction of the voice and asked with a smile, "What can I do for you, sir?"

This seemingly ordinary greeting made Chen San'er's pupils dilate suddenly. The young man had just claimed to be an old friend of Manager Bai, but now he was using such a distant form of address, clearly indicating that his previous statement was false. However, he still said nothing, simply watching the two silently, inwardly on guard.

The young man glanced at Chen San'er, his gaze lingering on him for a moment, before turning to Manager Bai: "Manager, let's find a quiet place to talk. I have something to ask you."

This imperious attitude startled Manager Bai, and the smile on his face faded slightly. But he quickly recovered, his heart sinking, and he tentatively asked, "Are you from the factory?"

The young man nodded expressionlessly.

This subtle movement was like a boulder thrown into the lake of Manager Bai's heart. He opened his mouth as if to ask something. But the words caught in his throat, and he swallowed back his guesses and questions. He took a deep breath, suppressed the turmoil in his heart, and turned to wave towards the backyard: "This way, please."

(End of this chapter)