Entrepreneurship in the Late Tang Dynasty

Chapter 153 Running away
The one who climbed over the wall was none other than Liu Wei, the former handyman from Luzhou.

Previously, Liu Wei had taken Li Yu, Tai Meng, Tian Jun, Yang Xingmin, and Tao Ya to Huo County to buy tea, and also to witness the grandeur of the governor of Guang Prefecture returning home in glory.

However, they did not expect that the governor of Guang Prefecture would return on horseback, while they set off behind on mules. By the time they arrived in Huo County, Zhao Da had already left with his relatives.

Zhao Da may be gone, but his legend lives on.

After Liu Wei and his group arrived in Huo County, they made some inquiries and heard all sorts of legendary stories.

The four-year period has ended, and Zhao Dalang has returned. In a fit of rage, he surrounds the county town with thousands of cavalrymen, just to make his mother smile.

Former enemies, swaggering and arrogant, but good and evil will eventually be rewarded. Zhao Dalang returned with thousands of troops, slaughtered his enemies' entire families, and returned to his hometown in glory with his relatives to repair their graves and pay respects to his ancestors.

There's also Zhao Dalang repaying four years of kindness by spending all his money, even giving them a meal and firewood every day. I wonder how many woodcutters regretted not delivering firewood to him.

In short, there are all sorts of plot twists, but the core is that Zhao Dalang gets his revenge, the good guys get rich, and the bad guys get their comeuppance. Liu Wei and the others are thoroughly enjoying themselves as they listen.

Although I didn't witness Zhao Dalang's return home, hearing these stories made the trip worthwhile.

When they finally arrived at the tea shop, they found that the shop did not sell yellow bud tea. They then asked and learned that the yellow bud tea had been sold out in April.

That was during the Qingming Festival, when tea leaves were at their tenderest. Officials and wealthy merchants had a need to entertain guests, so they often had the habit of buying tea.

Moreover, the production of yellow buds is already low, and most of them are directly supplied to regular buyers, so even less is left on the market. They are often snapped up as soon as they hit the market.

The people at the inn even mocked them, saying, "Who comes to Huangya in June?"

At this point, Liu Wei and the others were unaware that they had been tricked by the chief clerk; they were only thinking about how to complete the task assigned to them.

After asking around, they learned that tea from Gwangju is harvested late, around the end of May. If they went quickly, they might be able to buy a batch.

Upon hearing that they could buy tea in Gwangju, Liu Wei and the others were immediately delighted.

Their joy wasn't about sightseeing or meeting Zhao Dalang in Guang Prefecture, but rather about fulfilling their official duties. After all, they couldn't let the governor and his entourage go without good tea, could they?

So Liu Wei and his men wrote a letter and had it delivered to Luzhou by a porter to inform their chief clerk of the situation. Then they rode mules to Guangshan County, where there was Guangshan tea that was even better than Huangya tea.

When they arrived at the tea shop, they found that there were very few tea shops in the county. When they asked where to buy tea, everyone was tight-lipped, leaving Liu Wei and his group completely baffled.

Later, someone came up and saw that they were all tall and strong, especially a dark-faced man who was very robust. They thought they were government spies and wanted to torment the six of them.

Unexpectedly, someone came over and immediately hugged the dark-faced man.

It turns out that the dark-faced man was named Yang Xingmin. He had previously worked as a thief in the Dabie Mountains and happened to know a local young man named Xiao Shuai, with whom he had a close relationship.

Naturally, the fight didn't happen, and instead, they sat down together and drank.

It was over the drinks that he realized these people were genuinely there to buy tea. But when asked how much they wanted, the one named Tao Ya gave a very large number, which put them in a difficult position.

Liu Wei and the others stared at Tao Ya, secretly marveling at her sudden demand for so much.

It turns out that this young Tao, despite being a small-time tycoon, has quite a discerning eye. After traveling from Lujiang to Huoshan, Tao Ya discovered that there are very few good teas on the market. Only in Guangshan, due to the temperature difference, is the tea harvest delayed, and good tea is still available.

Moreover, Guangshan tea has always been among the best quality in Huainan. In the past, Xiao Tao couldn't even buy it, since it was a tribute to the emperor. As a small-time tycoon, he couldn't even smell it, let alone eat it.

But now, unexpectedly, Yang Xingmin has connections in Guangshan and can get his hands on Guangshan tea. If we don't take advantage of this opportunity, we'll be wasting it.

So Xiao Tao gritted her teeth, emptied her pockets, and decided to make a fortune in one go.

After hearing the quantity, the group discussed it and, perhaps out of respect for Yang Xingmin, decided to sell it to them.

However, they don't have any tea in the city now; the tea has all been made into cakes and is stored in the manor outside the city. They asked Liu Wei and his men if they dared to go there.

What wouldn't the six heroes of Lujiang dare to do? After finishing their drink, they followed these people out of the city and arrived at this village nestled among waters and hills.

When Yang Xingmin saw this estate, he praised it highly, saying that it was a place where tigers crouch and dragons coil, and that the owner of the estate must be a wealthy and extravagant person who makes a fortune every day.

These people smiled, then led the six people into the manor and directly to Xu Ying.

When Xu Ying heard that they had come to buy tea, and seeing Yang Xingmin's imposing and robust physique, he took a liking to him. He not only agreed to give them tea, but also invited them to stay at the estate for a few days. There was a grand banquet going on at the estate, so he wanted them to experience it for themselves.

If things go well, it wouldn't be impossible to hand over the tea-selling business in Lujiang to them later.

Yang Xingmin and the others were delighted and stayed to prepare for a grand feast.

There was no other way; apart from Tao Ya who had some assets, everyone else was penniless. Even Liu Wei and a few others who worked in the state were just temporary workers who received a salary but had no official status.

Yang Xingmin, too, had been living off his family since he ran away from the mountains. His family had long been fed up with him, and he was ashamed, since he was so big that he could easily carry goods at the docks.

But Yang Xingmin couldn't bring himself to do it. After all, all his childhood friends worked in the state government, while he was stuck working as a laborer at the docks. How could he stand that?

So I just kept drifting along in this awkward state.

But unexpectedly, accompanying Lao Liu on a business trip turned into a golden opportunity that landed right on the brothers' heads.

Even if they were completely ignorant, they knew that being able to exclusively sell all the camellias in Luzhou was an incredible fortune.

Although they also found that the people in the village were full of banditry and arrogance, and it was obviously not a good village, when a man has no money, especially when he doesn't have a wife, just ask him if he dares to do it!
So Liu Wei and his men settled down at the manor. During this time, heroes from Qing, Xu, Yan, Yu, and Yang provinces kept coming to the manor, and Liu Wei and his men got to know quite a few of them. It was only then that they realized that the owner of this manor was probably not just a simple bandit; he had connections all over the Jianghuai region!
The grand banquet was finally here. Because of Xu Ying's appreciation, Liu Wei and his six companions were seated in the inner courtyard, where they drank and feasted with his followers.

The six of them were seated in a corner. Although the table was a makeshift wooden plank, the wine and food were exactly the same as those served in the main hall.

Now Liu Wei and his six companions ate with greasy mouths, feeling refreshed and comfortable. After all, they were all broke and could only eat a lot, and they could afford to eat meat and wine a few more times.

So everyone toasted Yang Xingmin, expressing their gratitude that without him, they wouldn't have this path to wealth.

Yang Xingmin was also happy and drank more and more wine.

Just then, they heard a commotion coming from inside the hall. All six of them were quick-witted and immediately became alert, fearing that they had encountered the unfortunate situation of a firefight within the gang.

The thieves made no attempt to hide their actions, and their arguing grew louder and louder. The six men didn't even need to strain their ears to hear what these people were up to.

Goodness, how many dishes did the people inside eat? They're going to attack Guangshan County after just one drink?
At this point, everyone started to lose their appetite, especially Yang Xingmin, who secretly groaned. Becoming a thief? No problem. These days everyone's struggling; if we don't rob or steal, how will our families eat? So even though we're bandits, we're still from an honest, law-abiding family.

Smuggling tea? That's fine too. After all, so many people want good tea, but the court only cares about the people of Chang'an. There are so many wealthy merchants in Luzhou; is it wrong for them to want good tea? He's just giving them what they need. The fact that it's illegal now only shows that the court's approach is problematic.

Going to attack Guangshan County? Absolutely not. Those aren't just thieves, they're rebels!
Yang Xingmin was even thinking of making money to get a position in the county. How could he possibly become a rebel? Besides, when they went to Huo County this time, they saw how Zhao Da was returning home in glory, and they were truly envious.

He also dreamed of one day riding a tall horse, leading hundreds of followers, and returning to their village in triumph, so that his wicked sister-in-law could see that he, Yang Er, was also a man of great ambition, and that he shouldn't be nagging and banging pots all day long.

Can a traitor return home in glory? More likely, he'll have to leave his hometown!
While they were still pondering this, shouts came from the hall, announcing that they would attack Guangshan County the next day. Then, a group of thieves in the courtyard started shouting, and Yang Xingmin and the others also raised their hands.

Just as the group was wondering what to do, Liu Wei, who had led them there on official business, suddenly said he had a stomachache and needed to go to the outhouse. Then, ignoring his men, he left them there and ran off.

Now, Yang Xingmin and the others looked at each other in bewilderment, and finally, they all found an excuse to sneak out along the base of the courtyard wall.

……

At this moment, Liu Wei was unaware that after he left, Yang Xingmin and the others had also secretly run out. He was feeling a burning sensation in his chest.

He was just an inconspicuous person, but the first time in his life he stood in the spotlight was when Zhao Huai'an called him a good man and asked his name.

That day was the most special day among Liu Wei's countless days and nights.

His life had been mediocre until now. He only managed to get a job as a laborer in the state because he knew some characters when he was young.

But what exactly is manual labor? It refers to someone who uses their hands to exert force. To put it nicely, they might be a local official; to put it bluntly, they're just a menial laborer. And what's the worst part?

If you work hard at the docks and carry heavy bags, it may be tiring, but because everyone around you is in a similar situation, you don't feel a strong sense of shame.

However, Liu Wei focused his efforts on the state, and the people who came and went were all powerful figures in the state. Their natural indifference towards Liu Wei made his pride ache every day.

If it were an ordinary person in such an environment, they might become numb after a while, just like the servants in wealthy families who get used to all the stings and pain.

But Liu Wei was not one to accept his fate. When he was young, there was an old soldier who had returned to his hometown. No one knew where he had gone when he was young, but every time he told Liu Wei and the other children in the village stories about the outside world, about generals on the battlefield, about beauties in their boudoirs, and about dancers in brothels, these stories instilled in Liu Wei a sense of ambition at a young age, making him want to make something of himself.

Liu Wei used to think that he hadn't worked hard enough, so he did everything meticulously and was the most conscientious person in the government office. But soon he realized that he was very wrong.

Before he came into contact with the powerful and influential people in the state, he thought they were all outstanding individuals who could have such status and wealth. But when he saw those dissolute and bloated maggots every day, Liu Wei realized what reality was.

Therefore, Liu Wei understood that if he wanted to climb up the ladder and be seen by more people, he had to seize the great opportunities in life and meet a benefactor!

What is a noble person? It's not the governor who spends his days sightseeing, nor the chief clerk who dares not take any responsibility. It's Zhao Dalang, who is quick to repay kindness and avenge wrongs, who, like him, climbed up from the bottom and became governor through military merit.

Only he would notice himself in the crowd, and only he would praise himself as a "good man" in the crowd.

Now, this hero is about to deliver this crucial intelligence concerning the safety of Guangshan to Zhao Dalang, a benefactor, and in doing so, also to secure a fortune for himself.

Riding on a mule, Liu Wei felt for the first time that he should get a better horse.

……

In Guangshan County, Wu Xuanzhang was having tea with Hu Honglue, a general from the prefecture, and his subordinates Gao Qinde, Li Jiyong, Fei Cun, Lin Renhan, and others.

After the governor of Guang Prefecture began serving tea to his subordinates, this practice quickly became popular in the prefectural and county government offices and was rapidly spreading to the homes of wealthy gentry throughout the prefecture, truly achieving a ripple effect.

A few days ago, a troop of soldiers came down from the prefecture. This was Hu Honglue leading the troop, and four of his lieutenants, Gao Qinde, Li Jiyong, Fei Cun, and Lin Renhan, were sent as vanguards. They were ordered by Zhao Huai'an to arrest Jiang Yong, the patrol inspector of Guangshan County.

Thanks to what Zhao Da learned from Gao Pian, Jiang Yong was also tricked into coming to the county and was taken down. Then the remaining leaderless patrolmen were all wiped out.

Having secured his small achievement, Hu Honglue stayed for a day at the invitation of Wu Xuanzhang, the local county magistrate.

It wasn't that they cared about having a few more drinks, but rather that they had spread misinformation yesterday, having someone from the county take a death row inmate to the prefecture first, and then they were preparing to escort Jiang Yong away today.

After a day of torture, the information they extracted from Jiang was horrifying. It wasn't just about being an inside agent for Jiang's bandits; it concerned a life-threatening matter involving several powerful clans in the prefecture seizing military farmland.

Therefore, Hu Honglue could not afford to be careless.

At this moment, Hu Honglue, speaking in a strong Sichuan accent, clasped his hands in greeting to Wu Xuanzhang:
"Lord Wu, we're leaving now, so please don't see us off any further."

Wu Xuanzhang dared not keep anyone any longer. He had slept in the yamen last night and could hear Jiang Yong's agonizing cries of torture next door clearly. No one knew what Jiang Yong had revealed.

If he dares to keep people here again, wouldn't he be asking for trouble?
So Wu Xuanzhang stood up, quickly handed a small tray to Hu Honglue, and then said to the guards behind him:
"This is a small token of the county's appreciation. Don't worry about it. It's the usual practice. When people from higher up come down to do something, they can't just run around for nothing. There's not much, so each of you can have one."

Hu Hong glanced at it briefly; there really weren't many—maybe two gold beans per person. After thinking for a moment, he laughed heartily:
"Alright, then we brothers thank you, Lord Wu. You're a good man, we all know that."

Then he grabbed the gold beans on the spot and distributed them to Gao Qinde, Li Jiyong, Fei Cun, and Lin Renhan. Li Jiyong didn't want them, but Hu Honglue forced them into his hand.

Finally, the group bid farewell to Wu Xuanzhang, preparing to go next door to pick up the man first, and then immediately rush back to the prefecture.

I wonder how many people will die this time.

As the group left the hospital, they saw a county official leading a man towards the back; the man looked somewhat familiar.

Just as Hu Honglue was still wondering where he had seen this person before, Li Jiyong said in a deep voice:
"I don't want these gold beans, it's your business if you take them."

Lin Renhan glanced at Hu Honglue, a slight smirk on his face, but said nothing.

Only Gao Qinde and Fei Cun shook their heads, about to speak, when Hu Honglue spoke up on his own initiative:
"You idiot, you still think you're just a lowly clerk? We'll be spending more and more time traveling around the area, and these people will know exactly what they're doing. And believe it or not, if we don't take that old Wu's money today, he'll be scared to death tonight. Don't you even think about what we're investigating right now!"

Gao Qinde and Fei Cun both expressed the same idea, with Gao Qinde being even more direct:
“We’ll take the money and deliver it to the prefecture when we get back. It’ll also help the governor save money. It’s a good thing.”

Ke Feicun laughed:
“Old Gao, you really understand our magistrate. The money is sent up and we get rewarded on the same day. So, we don’t lose any money, but we don’t have to worry about anything. This is what the magistrate always calls a ‘win-win’ situation.”

After hearing this, everyone laughed, especially Li Jiyong, who scratched his head sheepishly. Just as he was about to say something clever, a panicked voice called out to them from behind.

Everyone turned to look and saw Wu Xuanzhang, who had even lost one shoe while running, rushing over to grab Hu Honglue, crying and shouting:

"Captain Hu, you can't leave. The people of Guang County are counting on you."

Hu Honglue and the other four were all stunned. What was Old Wu up to?
(End of this chapter)