Hearing that Chen Ji had agreed, Hong Zu’er seemed relieved, “Then it will be the five of us going to Baidadan City: me, Young Master Chen, Zhang Baishi, Ah Sheng, and Xingxing. Xingxing, your master must stay with me. Go pack your things and be back before *shenshi*. If I don’t see you by then, you know the consequences.”

Xingxing hurriedly agreed and turned to leave.

Hong Zu’er then instructed Ah Sheng, “When you look for the caravan, be polite. These people have extensive connections, and we’ll have to rely on them once we reach Jing Dynasty territory. If they want something, don’t refuse too quickly; I’ll figure something out.”

Ah Sheng replied, “Understood.”

Hong Zu’er waved his hand, “Go… If Young Master Chen wants to see the military market, you can go together. You handle things more reliably than Ah Sheng.”

“Wait,” Zhang Baishi glanced at Chen Ji. “Second Brother, do you trust him? He just said going to Baidadan City would be a one-way trip, and now he’s agreed. I think he’s playing a trick.”

Hong Zu’er was silent for a moment before slowly saying, “He’s more trustworthy than you. Don’t say anything more; go.”

Zhang Baishi was startled by the reply.

Chen Ji and Ah Sheng left and headed to the military market outside the city.

Along the way, people often greeted Ah Sheng with smiles, and Ah Sheng always patiently responded, even remembering their names.

The thirteen or fourteen-year-old boy was like the moss on the brick roads of Chongliguan. He was born belonging to Chongliguan, and Chongliguan belonged to him.

Chen Ji asked curiously, “Why do you remember so many people?”

Ah Sheng smiled and replied, “Because Master Hong said that to be a *yebushou*, you need to know a lot. When you need to pretend to be from Shanzhou, you must act like someone from Shanzhou. When you need to pretend to be from Luzhou, you must act like someone from Luzhou. So, I often chat with people from all over the world, talking about their hometowns, and over time, I get to know them well.”

“Master Hong also said that the spies of the Jing Dynasty Military Intelligence Department always want to infiltrate Chongliguan. The more a *yebushou* knows, the better they can identify them.”

Chen Ji said calmly, “Then can you distinguish Jing Dynasty spies?”

Ah Sheng shook his head, “I can’t, but Master Hong can. The year before last, a team of merchants came to the military market, claiming to be from Shanzhou. But Master Hong found out they didn’t take afternoon naps, so he immediately arrested them and interrogated them inside the pass. Sure enough, they were all Jing Dynasty spies.”

Chen Ji casually said, “Then where do you think I’m from?”

Ah Sheng laughed heartily, “Although Young Master is from the capital, you don’t seem like a capital resident. You don’t have the airs of a capital lord, nor do you enjoy chattering like them. Capital lords love to use the honorific ‘nin’; they say it with a smile when happy, and through gritted teeth when displeased. You’ve never done that.”

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows, “Then where do you think I am from?”

Ah Sheng thought for a moment, “You don’t have the refinement and meticulousness of southerners, nor the ruggedness and unrestrained nature of northerners. I think you’re from one of the central plains provinces: Shanzhou, Luzhou, Shaanxi, Yuzhou. But you don’t have the shrewdness of Shanzhou people, the scholarly air of Luzhou people, or the fierce customs of Shaanxi. So, I think you are from Yuzhou.”

Chen Ji raised his eyebrows, “I am from Luzhou.”

Ah Sheng scratched his head, “Ha, I knew I couldn’t tell precisely. Master Hong also said that every place has a hundred kinds of people, and some people carry burdens in their hearts or are very cunning, so you can’t see through them.”

Chen Ji’s heart stirred.

Although his original body was from Luzhou, he himself had truly grown up in Luocheng, so Ah Sheng hadn’t guessed wrong.

But if Ah Sheng could discern some clues, what about Master Hong? Why did Hong Zu’er feel confident taking him along? Was it truly a shortage of hands, or did he have other plans?

Chen Ji casually asked, “I’ve noticed that you always start everything with ‘Master Hong said’. By the way, how many troops are stationed in Baidadan City?”

Ah Sheng led Chen Ji past the Chongliguan official yamen. “We’ve investigated this before. The standing army is similar to Chongliguan, with over eight thousand soldiers… This here is the official yamen, but the commander-in-chief is usually not here. He prefers to be in the gate tower on Ping’anmen; there’s a large sandbox there, which looks very impressive.”

Chen Ji didn’t look at the official yamen but thoughtfully asked, “Is it easy to infiltrate Baidadan City?”

Ah Sheng explained, “It’s not easy. We have to blend in with a merchant caravan. They do have ways to get travel permits, but the permits also have to match up.”

Chen Ji was puzzled, “What do you mean?”

Ah Sheng patiently explained, “Jing Dynasty travel permits are extremely detailed: a person’s age, native place, family relations, where they came from, where they are going, what they are doing, who they are traveling with, and what their relationship is, are all written clearly. Before we infiltrate, we have to prepare everything flawlessly; otherwise, one inspection will expose us.”

Chen Ji asked, “What if we are exposed?”

Ah Sheng said solemnly, “Naturally, we’ll be arrested and interrogated until death.”

The two arrived at the south gate of Chongliguan. Ah Sheng smiled and greeted the city guards, who then let them through.

Chen Ji asked curiously, “Can Chongliguan infantry leave freely?”

Ah Sheng smiled and said, “Of course not. Ordinary infantry who want to leave must get a pass approved at the official yamen and can only leave once a month. Only *yebushou* can enter and exit freely.”

Chen Ji looked back at the archway above the city gate.

The South Gate had an official name, “Sushenmen.”

However, because most of the infantry were illiterate and found it difficult to pronounce, they simply called it the South Gate, and the two characters Sushen were forgotten.

Outside the city, tents stood in rows. Merchants saw Ah Sheng and immediately surrounded him, pushing Chen Ji aside.

One merchant whispered, “Ah Sheng, do you have any ‘eagle claw’ items?”

Ah Sheng shook his head, “No.”

Another merchant whispered, “Do you have any ‘menzi’?”

Ah Sheng was surrounded, struggling to shout, “No, no, I don’t have anything you want… Uncle Guzi, has the Changping caravan arrived?”

When the merchants heard that Ah Sheng had nothing to sell, they scattered, leaving only the merchant called Uncle Guzi pointing into the distance and replying, “They’ve arrived, arrived yesterday evening. They’re in the Zhuque Tent.”

Ah Sheng smoothed his disheveled clothes and loosened his collar. “Young Master Chen, let’s go. We’ll meet the merchants from Changping.”

Chen Ji, standing to the side, asked curiously, “What was that slang just now?”

Ah Sheng took a few deep breaths. “‘Eagle claw’ items are asking if there are any spoils of war captured from Jing Dynasty bandits. Swords and blades can be sold, as can the wooden identification tags on ordinary infantry. But the best-selling items are the blades and armor of the *zhuoshengjiang*.”

Chen Ji was startled. “They dare to buy armor? Aren’t they afraid of losing their heads?”

Ah Sheng led him forward. “Those who dare to buy such things are imperial merchants. They themselves make armor for the court, and they buy it to learn from Jing Dynasty armor. After buying it, they don’t take the complete armor; they dismantle it, removing the tung oil and hemp threads, and take the individual pieces back into the pass. For one *zhuoshengjiang* armor, they can offer three thousand *liang* of silver, but the commander-in-chief and Master Hong forbid selling armor. Anyone caught selling armor is immediately imprisoned, destined for a lifetime in jail.”

Chen Ji smiled, “You’re not telling the truth. If it were truly completely forbidden, they wouldn’t ask you.”

Seeing that he couldn’t hide it, Ah Sheng whispered, “Actually, you can secretly sell them some armor plates, one plate for a hundred *liang*. But they don’t buy too many, only a few at a time.”

Chen Ji asked curiously, “What does ‘menzi’ mean?”

Ah Sheng explained, “‘Menzi’ means information. *Yebushou* are always the first to know information. If they discover that Jing Dynasty is mobilizing food supplies and troops, they tell the merchants in the military market. The merchants can then transport the necessary goods for war in advance and also prepare funds in advance, ready to buy spoils of war from the soldiers after the battle.”

Chen Ji thought for a moment, “What sells for the most money in Jing Dynasty?”

Ah Sheng lowered his voice mysteriously, “Naturally, firearms. In Baidadan City, merchants are bidding a thousand *liang* of silver for one *liang* of Ning Army gunpowder. If you can bring a firelance, they’ll give ten thousand *liang*. But all merchants are thoroughly searched before leaving the pass. No one is allowed to take firearms to Jing Dynasty. If discovered, they will be killed without question… We’re here.”

Chen Ji looked up. The so-called Zhuque Tent was actually the largest tent in the military market, massive like a house.

A red *zhuque* (Vermilion Bird) was embroidered on the tent, its tail feathers trailing long flames.

A banner was erected in front of the tent, with the character ‘Qing’ embroidered on it.

Beside the tent, dozens of men were packing goods, their eyes intentionally or unintentionally sizing up the two, their hands on the hilts of their waist-swords, heavily guarded, not looking like mere merchants.

Ah Sheng stood in front of the tent, adjusting his attire and instructing Chen Ji, “Young Master, this Zhuque Tent was set up by our Chongliguan for merchants to stay. Only large merchants can afford to rent it, and it’s a matter of prestige for them. Every year, merchants fight over this tent, but when this merchant with the ‘Qing’ banner appears, everyone tacitly gives up the Zhuque Tent.”

Chen Ji watched Ah Sheng adjust his clothing, a look of seriousness on the boy’s face. “Who is behind them? Why are they so domineering?”

Ah Sheng continued to instruct, “They’re not exactly domineering. They are not prominent in the Ning Dynasty, but they have the widest connections in the Jing Dynasty. If other merchants encounter trouble in the Jing Dynasty, they still have to ask them to resolve it. Moreover, they are very trustworthy and always fulfill their promises, so they are also highly respected in Chongliguan.”

Ah Sheng whispered, “Later, when we go in, Young Master, don’t speak. I’ll handle it. They are very polite to *yebushou*, but their nature is extremely cautious. If we say even a few wrong words, they won’t do business with us.”

Chen Ji hummed in agreement.

The next moment, Ah Sheng called out loudly from outside the tent, “Ah Sheng from Chongliguan comes to pay respects!”

The curtain of the Zhuque Tent was pulled open from inside, and a burly man looked Ah Sheng and Chen Ji up and down. “Do you have weapons?”

Ah Sheng politely replied, “No, I know the rules of your esteemed guild.”

“Knowing is enough,” the man didn’t search them, but simply stepped aside. “Friends of *yebushou*, please come in. Our manager is inside.”

Ah Sheng cupped his fists and bowed, then lowered his head and squeezed through the gap in the curtain into the large tent.

Inside the tent, a fire pit was enclosed with stones, and a pot of lamb soup was simmering over the fire, bubbling fragrantly, though there weren’t many pieces of meat in the pot.

Several men sat around the fire pit eating roasted flatbread, slowly consuming a bite of soup and a bite of bread.

A few others were organizing things at the edge of the large tent.

By the fire pit sat the most conspicuous man, wearing a leather jacket, his bronze skin exceptionally robust.

Ah Sheng, ten steps away, cupped his fists and said, “Third Master, Master Hong sent me here to discuss something.”

The man looked up, one eye blind, only the whites remaining.

Chen Ji was slightly startled, and the man was also slightly startled.

It was Hu Sanye.

(End of this chapter)