The Legend of the Condor Heroes: Starting from the Bodyguard

Chapter 24: I dare not forget about my country despite my humble position

It was morning. Dongjia Duan Huai'an walked through the porch and entered the side hall.

Zhang Wangyue, Hu Yanlei, and the steward had been waiting for a long time.

"Master!"

"Please sit down," Duan Huai'an said to the three men who had stood up. He sat down in a rosewood chair, picked up a teacup from the table, took a sip, and then asked, "What are the specific details of the merchant's situation?"

The first to come into contact with the Jingzhou merchants was Hu Yanlei. He instructed his men to quickly report to their employer and then entertain them. On Duan Huai'an's way to the escort agency, he, Zhang Wangyue, and the manager had already gathered all the relevant information.

The bodyguard, Hu Yanlei, said, "The merchant is from Jingzhou. His cargo consists of more than two hundred mules and horses, and more than thirty carts carrying medicinal herbs and furs."

The manager said, "The accountant has calculated that if this shipment can be delivered smoothly, the profits will be enough to support the escort agency for half a year."

Duan Huai'an, who was in charge of the escort agency, was not the kind of person who would disregard the consequences for personal gain. He nodded slightly upon hearing this and then said, "But we have never experienced escorting mules and horses."

The manager said, "Could the merchant be a horse trader? In these chaotic times, especially for caravans heading south, which have to pass through the area where the Song and Jin dynasties are at odds, not to mention the war, bandits are rampant in the area, and ordinary horse traders do not have the ability to hire escorts."

"What does the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) think?"

Zhang Wangyue thought it over carefully: "I think there are two possibilities. One is that the other party is Ma Hu."

Horse households were households that paid taxes by raising government horses.

"What about the second?"

Zhang Wangyue said, "These merchants are either people from the Lin'an court, or they have some connection with the court. They are buying horses on behalf of the Lin'an court."

After the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) finished speaking, the hall suddenly fell silent.

Hu Yanlei had not expected this, and his expression turned intense upon hearing it.

As a镖师 (bodyguard/escort) who traveled all over the country, Huyan Lei knew the special characteristics of horses.

Whether it was the Liao, Jin, or Western Xia dynasties, cavalry was always a major concern for the Song court. During the reign of Emperor Taizu, the court usually purchased military horses from the Western Regions. However, when the horses reached Lin'an Prefecture, the court was forced to turn to Guangxi and Dali for supplies. Not only were the mountains high and the roads long, but the journey was also fraught with danger. Moreover, the horses were expensive, costing sixty or seventy taels of silver for a single ordinary military horse.

Given the special status of the镖头 (bodyguard/escort), this analysis likely explains the situation. Escorting mules and horses for the imperial court in Lin'an Prefecture to resist the Jin invaders was undoubtedly a good deed for the country and its people.

Upon hearing this, the manager immediately said, "This shipment must not be accepted. If the Jurchens find out, the escort agency will be in grave danger."

Duan Huai'an asked Zhang Wangyue, "What does the head镖师 (bodyguard/escort) think?"

"I am merely providing an analysis. On the other hand, what is placed before the escort agency is a special 'human convoy' consisting of hundreds of mules and horses. The escort agency only needs to deliver it to Jingzhou. As for the specific destination of the mules and horses, it is none of the escort agency's business."

"well said!"

"Master!" the steward tried to dissuade him.

Duan Huai'an waved his hand, picked up his teacup, brushed the lid against the tea needle, and said in a low but righteous tone, "We are all family. I'm just stating my position. Though I am of humble status, I have never forgotten my duty to the country."

The steward's lips moved, and he looked ashamed: "I understand."

Duan Huai'an drank his tea, and after putting down his teacup, he said resolutely, "We must win this escort mission no matter what."

Suddenly, as if he had thought of something, he cautioned, "Isn't Zhou Yan quite skilled at training horses?"

“Yes!” Huyan Lei said.

"You're in charge of the mules and horses; Zhou Yan will accompany them."

Hu Yanlei patted his chest and said, "Don't worry, boss, I guarantee that not a single mule or horse will be lost when we deliver it to Jingzhou."

Zhang Wangyue said, "I will be in charge of this escort mission."

"I wouldn't trust anyone else."

The two of them smiled knowingly.

"Let's go and meet the merchants."

"it is good!"

……

Zhou Yan was practicing his martial arts in the training ground when Hu Yanlei strode over. He went up to him and asked, "How are you, brother?"

The镖师 (bodyguard/escort) lowered his voice and said, "Let me tell you, the boss has said that this shipment must be delivered to Fu'an no matter what. The head镖师 suspects that the merchant is transporting horses to the imperial court in Lin'an Prefecture."

Zhou Yan suddenly realized.

"Oh, right, the boss also said that I'll be in charge of the mules and horses, and you'll come along."

"Alright!" Zhou Yan was overjoyed. Mules and horses were for resisting the Jin, which was for the country. Moreover, when he returned from Jingzhou, he could also visit Xiangyang to see if he could find Dugu Qiubai's "Sword Tomb." "I wonder how the bidding process works? The other side is very cunning," Hu Yanlei said.

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "The escort agency relies on its strength to carry out escort missions, and the examinations are mainly based on the escorts' skills. Do you think it's all about words? We'll deal with whatever comes our way."

“That’s right!” Hu Yanlei laughed heartily.

……

In the corner, Zhou Yan arranged for the servants to wipe the weapons. The swords, spears, halberds and daggers on the weapon racks by the martial arts field gleamed brightly in the autumn light, their cold light flashing.

The host, the merchants, and Zhang Wangyue walked through the long corridor.

"Cheer up!" Hu Yanlei shouted, and the martial arts practitioners became energetic again.

Zhang Wangyue glanced at the martial arts arena and said, "Zhou the bodyguard."

"exist."

Zhou Yan put down the strong bow he was maintaining and quickly went to meet it.

Zhang Wangyue said to the merchant, "This is the youngest镖师 (bodyguard/escort) of the Fu'an镖局 (escort agency). Not long ago, he traveled alone to Datong Prefecture to deliver a message."

The merchant, seeing Zhou Yan's handsome appearance and energetic demeanor, laughed and said, "A hero emerges from among the young."

"Thank you for your kind words."

"Zhou, the bodyguard, Mr. Lü is going to the Sihai Escort Agency. Please lead the way," Zhang Wangyue said.

"Alright, sir, please."

The two escort agencies were not far apart. Zhou Yan went ahead first, and the merchant surnamed Lü bowed to his boss and Zhang Wangyue before following him.

The three men left the escort agency and walked along the street. The merchant asked, "What does Escort Master Zhou think of the Sihai Escort Agency?"

Zhou Yan laughed and said, "There's a lot of mutual disdain among those in the same trade. Aren't you worried that I might say something that would disparage the Sihai Escort Agency?"

Merchant Lü was taken aback; he truly hadn't expected the young bodyguard to say such a thing.

The next moment, he heard Zhou Yan say something even more unbelievable.

"However, I know how the镖师 (bodyguards/escorts) from all over the world would answer if you asked them such a question."

"tell me the story."

"The bodyguards from all over the world will say what kind of trouble happened when they were escorting goods in Fu'an, and how much cargo was lost. They will also say that some bodyguards in Fu'an flirted with the young ladies they were escorting. They will probably also say that when they were escorting letters, they opened the letters without permission and exposed the privacy of the merchants. They might even say that Fu'an embezzled from his own post."

Merchant Lü smiled slightly: "So, does it exist or not?"

"Listen to both sides and you will be enlightened; listen to only one side and you will be misled. You will know more if you inquire further."

"Where should we go and who should we ask?"

Zhou Yan smiled inwardly; he was still testing me.

"Ahead is Songhelou, a top-tier restaurant in Zhongdu. Sir, you might want to inquire about it when you have a banquet there."

The merchant, Mr. Lü, replied, "Thank you very much, young man."

"You're welcome, sir."

The three of them weaved through the bustling crowds, passing by the Songhe Tower with its lanterns hanging high and its shape resembling a crane spreading its wings in the distance. When they reached a place not far from the Sihai Escort Agency, Zhou Yan stopped and cupped his hands, saying, "I've seen you off. I'll stop here."

"Thank you!"

Merchant Lü cupped his hands in greeting and walked straight ahead. After taking about ten steps, he asked his attendant, "What do you think of this bodyguard?"

"It's good that you're young and well-educated."

“Yes, his speech is quite refined,” said Mr. Lü. “When I go to Sihai, you can go to Songhelou and inquire about him.”

"How about we just choose Fu'an?"

"No, this concerns the imperial army and cannot be taken lightly. Only the strongest can receive the goods."

"clear."

The man turned around, glanced at Zhou Yan's receding figure in the crowd, and strode towards Songhelou.

　Bonus chapter for monthly pass winners, and another chapter tonight. Thank you so much to all the readers who gave me monthly passes and recommendations. I am deeply grateful.

　　
　
(End of this chapter)