The Yangtze Toll
The Jiangsu Merchant Group's vessel departed from Jinjiang Harbor and set course for Nanjing, the capital of Jiangsu Province.
Besides the merchant group's own people, many others had boarded the ship. They were merchants and travelers bound for Nanjing via the Yangtze River.
Since the vessel carried smuggled goods, it flew no Jiangsu Merchant Group flag. Instead, it sailed disguised as a passenger ship, just in case.
With the wind filling its sails, the ship cut upstream against the Yangtze's current. Nam Sang-do stood at the bow, letting the breeze wash over him.
Everything was proceeding far more smoothly than he had feared, and his mood lifted accordingly.
That good mood did not last long. A fleet of boats blocked their path.
They belonged to the water bandits of Hongze Lake, who ruled this stretch of the Yangtze.
Their vessels barred the waterway, forcing the ship to stop.
"Who is the captain of this vessel?"
A burly man with a thick beard on his face shouted, stripped to the waist.
"Oh my, if it isn't the greatest hero of the Yangtze, Lord Baek Gu-ya himself!"
The man posing as the ship's captain stepped forward and greeted the shouter by name.
"So this is Captain Wang's boat."
"Lord Baek Gu-ya, must you do this every time you see my ship?"
The two men spoke as if they were old friends.
"Times are hard these days. Couldn't you show a little mercy this time, Lord Baek Gu-ya?"
Captain Wang pleaded, trying to haggle the toll down.
"There are seventy-nine passengers aboard. Let us pass for a hundred taels."
"Only a hundred taels?"
"This isn't a cargo ship, it's a passenger vessel. We're carrying people to Nanjing. Three taels per passenger."
Seventy-nine passengers at three taels each came to two hundred thirty-seven taels total. Handing over a hundred taels to the bandits was hardly a small sum.
"I still have to feed my wife and children and repair the boat. Sometimes I even have to borrow at high interest."
"Fine. Since Captain Wang asks so earnestly, I'll make an exception. Pay a hundred taels and be on your way."
The man called Captain Wang tossed a single silver tael to the bandit leader.
Baek Gu-ya snatched the flying coin from the air.
At once, the boats blocking the river pulled aside and opened a path.
Whoosh…
The ship resumed its course, slicing through the current once more.
"Thank you. As expected of the great hero of the Yangtze, Lord Baek Gu-ya is truly magnanimous."
As Captain Wang offered the polite farewell while passing, Baek Gu-ya laughed heartily.
"Hahaha! Captain Wang, let's meet again next time."
"Good heavens, I'd rather not see you again if I'm being honest, Lord Baek Gu-ya. So please, take your time on your next patrol."
Nam Sang-do finally relaxed once the bandits' boats had faded into the distance.
The escorts and guards aboard could have fought the bandits without much trouble, but any battle would draw unwanted attention, and that was the last thing they needed.
Smuggling thrived on secrecy; avoiding eyes was always best.
They had encountered water bandits once, but the rest of the voyage went smoothly.
If they reached Nanjing's docks without further incident, the smuggled goods could be safely transferred to the Jiangsu Merchant Group.
After roughly one meal's time since the encounter, the Nanjing docks came into view.
Merchants and travelers who had used the ship began preparing to disembark as the docks appeared.
"It seems we'll finish this run without trouble."
"Still, don't let your guard down."
"Understood."
The ship docked. Ropes were thrown and secured, and a gangway was lowered to connect the vessel to the pier.
Passengers gathered on deck, ready to disembark.
That was when it happened.
Thud-thud-thud-thud!
Dozens of soldiers rushed onto the docks, surrounding the pier and blocking anyone from leaving the ship.
"Halt."
Three men in officer's uniforms stepped forward through the ranks and addressed the passengers still aboard.
"We've received a tip that someone on this vessel is smuggling. We will conduct an inspection. Do not disembark—remain on board!"
Nam Sang-do's face twisted.
"Don't worry. The goods are well hidden below deck. They might not find them. Still, just in case, you should disguise yourself as a traveler and disembark, Lord Sang-do."
"And you?"
"We'll do the same and watch from the inn across the way."
"Understood. I suppose that's what I must do as well."
While they spoke, soldiers boarded the ship.
"Merchants, take your belongings and stand to the right. Travelers, stand to the left. If you cooperate, this will be over quickly. If not, it will take much longer."
At the officer's command, the passengers split into two groups. The travelers were allowed off after only a cursory check of their belongings.
Nam Sang-do tried to keep his expression neutral as he left the ship, but it was not easy.
He crossed to a restaurant on the far side of the docks, ordered a bowl of noodles, and watched the vessel from his seat.
The escorts and guards had also disembarked disguised as travelers or martial artists. They sat at separate tables, pretending not to know one another, and ordered noodles and dumplings while keeping their eyes on the ship.
The travelers were cleared first. The real inspection of the merchants' cargo began in earnest, and time dragged on.
"They won't find it, will they?"
The escort sitting back-to-back with him answered quietly.
"They shouldn't."
That was when it happened.
Suddenly the soldiers grew busy. They drew their swords and began herding the crew to one side.
Watching the scene, Nam Sang-do muttered a curse under his breath.
"Damn it…"
If the soldiers had not found the hidden contraband, they would not be acting this way.
"Lord Sang-do…"
"Be quiet. I need to think."
"I told you, it's hilarious."
"Haha, now that you mention it, you're right. They must have mistaken it for sea dog penis because they didn't know any better."
In one of Taihu's pleasure houses, jokes about sea dog penis had suddenly become popular. Now, no matter which establishment one visited, the courtesans teased customers with stories linking sea dog penis to dog penis, tickling their sides and stirring their desires.
"Exactly. And then they strut around claiming their vigor has returned. At this point, it seems sea dog penis isn't actually good for the body—it's all in how a person thinks."
"Listening to you, I suppose you're right."
The courtesan named Aeng-hwa picked up a piece of meat with her chopsticks and brought it to the man's lips.
"So think of this as sea dog penis and eat it. Who knows? You might feel a surge tonight."
"What is it?"
"Dog penis."
"What? Dog penis? Hahahaha! Fine, I'll eat it. Shall we see tonight whether it makes me surge?"
The courtesan flicked the scholar's groin with her finger and teased him.
"Will one piece be enough to make it surge?"
"Then?"
"You need a whole plate for any effect. I keep telling you, this isn't sea dog penis—it's dog penis."
"Wench, the others said they felt a surge after eating this thinking it was sea dog penis. So I should too…"
"Aigoo, that's only when you don't know. If you know what it really is, one piece won't do anything."
"Hahaha, fine. Then I'll try this so-called body-strengthening dog penis. Hahahaha."
The man laughed and wrapped an arm around the courtesan's waist. She leaned lightly against his chest, then tickled it with her finger and spoke softly.
"Wait just a moment. I'll have them bring a whole plate."
When the courtesan slipped from his embrace, the man seated across from him laughed and said,
"That Aeng-hwa girl is too good at business. No wonder the madam refuses to let her go."
The man spoke with envy. The courtesan beside him pouted.
"Aigoo, I'm good too."
"What are you good at?"
She lifted her breasts with both hands and declared confidently,
"Even Aeng-hwa can't compete with these."
"Hahahaha!"
Everyone in the room burst into laughter.
"Yes, yes. You're right."
The laughter and chatter from the pleasure houses spread through word of mouth until even ordinary people heard the jokes. From then on, anyone who pretended to know what they did not was told, "You don't even know it's dog penis." The phrase caught on and spread across the entire Central Plains.
A woman came to Sinfungjang.
"What brings you to our manor?"
"I used to run a pleasure house called Hongabang in Taihu."
"And?"
"I heard Sinfungjang purchased Hongabang."
"That is correct. However, I am not the manor lord, so I cannot speak on the matter. Please come inside for now."
Though small, the manor was properly appointed. He guided her to a guest house.
"Wait here for a moment."
The woman glanced around the guest house and tilted her head.
"Are there no servants?"
It looked presentable at first glance, yet many places clearly needed attention. Dust and cobwebs were visible in corners.
"I thought I saw quite a few people earlier…"
While she puzzled over this, a man approached her.
"I am Nam Sa-ik, the chief steward of Sinfungjang."
"My name is Lee Yeon."
"Madam Lee Yeon, then. You ran Hongabang before?"
"Yes. We gathered people with nowhere else to go, opened Hongabang, and ran it together."
"Then why…?"
"Hongabang was taken by the Black Horse Room."
"Ah… Have you come to ask for it back?"
"Even if I asked, you wouldn't return it, would you?"
"We must profit as well. We cannot simply give it away for free."
"Even if you returned it, I have no money to buy it back. That is why I came. Have you found people to work at Hongabang yet?"
"Not yet. Are you perhaps offering to work…?"
"There are girls who worked with me. If you have not hired anyone for Hongabang yet, I hoped Sinfungjang might allow them to work there."
"I see. However, we have no intention of operating Hongabang as a pleasure house."
"Then…?"
"We plan to remodel it slightly and turn it into a gambling house."
"A gambling house? Isn't that illegal?"
"It is. But if we bribe the right officials, it can become legal depending on the circumstances."
As the saying went, "If something cannot be done with bribes, it is because there is not enough money or sincerity." Bribes were the universal remedy for worldly affairs.
"I see."
Lee Yeon looked disheartened. Seeing her expression, Nam Sa-ik sensed there was more to the story.
"You seem to have a story."
"I can no longer afford to look after the girls…"
Nam Sa-ik listened, thought for a moment, then asked,
"How many are with you?"
"Twelve."
"Including you, that makes thirteen."
"Yes."
"Is there anyone among you who can cook well? Or someone skilled with tea? If not, would any of you be willing to learn cooking, tea ceremony, or brewing?"
Lee Yeon looked at him as if wondering why he asked such things.
"You said you need to make a living, did you not?"
"Ah, there are two who can cook. They have a good touch. People used to say the food at Hongabang was delicious."
"Then I will hire all thirteen of you, including Madam Lee, at Sinfungjang."
"Truly?"
"Yes."
"But will the girls have work at a gambling house?"
"We will make work for them. We can sell liquor, tea, and food at the gambling house. That should suffice."
Lee Yeon nearly laughed at Nam Sa-ik's casual tone.
She had never met anyone who spoke so lightly of serious matters.
"Sinfungjang must have a lot of money."
"We do not. Still, money can be earned from now on. First, bring the others to Sinfungjang. Also, since only men live here, we are quite clumsy with household matters."
Lee Yeon blinked at Nam Sa-ik.
"So while we remodel Hongabang into a gambling house, please teach our boys how to manage a household."