The Emperor's Errand (4)
Our destination was Gansu Province.
Crossing the Yellow River after passing through Shaanxi was the shortest route, but the mountains were extremely treacherous.
We'd have to scale not only Mount Tai near Beijing, but also Hang Mountain and Wutai Mountain to the north of Shaanxi.
So the path we'd chosen was to head south through Hebei Province, board a boat in Kaifeng, and sail up the Yellow River to Lanzhou in Gansu.
Plus, since it started by heading south, it could convince our pursuers that we were truly bound for Guangdong Province.
And unless we were using lightness skill to sprint at full speed, traveling by boat was faster and more comfortable than riding horses over land.
Even if it meant bucking the current upriver.
With pursuers on our tail, shaking them off meant prioritizing speed.
Besides, with uprisings breaking out everywhere, avoiding the roads was another smart move.
Three or four days after leaving Beijing, we were nearing Kaifeng.
As the former capital of the old empire, Kaifeng was rich in ruins and equally prosperous.
Situated along the river, it hosted massive markets as well.
We decided to scout boat passages right upon arrival.
One could do it on foot, but the easiest way was to check the inns near the docks.
Those inns specialized in arranging boat travel.
We headed for the largest and most luxurious one. Even on the run, giving up a comfy bed and hot meal felt too tragic.
And what pursuer would expect us to boldly check into the finest inn?
Thanks to our midnight departure, we had some breathing room from any tails.
"Welcome."
The errand boy greeted us as we entered.
"Leave your horses with us."
"Ah, thank you."
He handed us markers to identify our mounts later.
We went inside and approached the room clerk.
This time, I handled it myself instead of delegating to Palgap or the Seo-u Warrior.
"How many nights?"
"Ah, looking for a boat, perhaps?"
"Yes."
I kept it vague—no point specifying days when we didn't know the boat schedule.
"Understood. What kind of room?"
"Do you have something for eight of us together?"
"We have a large suite for up to ten, but as you know, those are either top-tier or bottom-tier."
The clerk smiled and continued.
"Naturally, you'd want the top. Three silver taels a night."
Steep for lodging, but par for the course in a high-end inn's best room.
"That one. Oh, and check for boats to Lanzhou in Gansu."
"Got it. Room's prepaid. If you stay another night, let us know before lunch and pay upfront."
I settled the bill on the spot.
An usher arrived to guide us to the inn's top-floor suite.
"Here it is. Our finest and roomiest."
Fit for ten, everything screamed luxury.
A central common area flanked by four private rooms.
"Whoa! Incredible!"
Palgap's awe was warranted—it was opulent. The Mingjong and Changun warriors, seeing such a room for the first time, gawked wide-eyed.
I chuckled and slipped the usher a silver coin.
"Take good care of us during our stay."
"Of course. Pull this bell cord if you need me. Rest well."
He bowed politely and left. I turned to the group.
"Relax today. Things get busy tomorrow."
"Understood."
Four rooms for eight: Palgap and I took one, the six warriors split the rest.
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.
.
The next day,
As we headed downstairs for breakfast, the errand boy approached me.
"Sir, you asked about boats to Gansu?"
"Yes, that's right."
"One leaves for Lanzhou tomorrow morning early."
He handed over documents detailing the vessel's diagram, captain's experience, crew size, passenger capacity, and more.
Fifty passengers excluding crew—sizable, considering provisions and cargo to Lanzhou.
Timing was perfect.
"Perfect. We'll take it."
"How many passengers?"
"Eight. And eight horses."
"We'll prepare accordingly."
We chatted boat details, then dug into breakfast.
Early departure tomorrow meant hustling.
Not much to prep, but details needed handling.
Post-meal, we hit Kaifeng's bustling streets.
Quite the sight.
"Kinda like Hangzhou's vibe."
I nodded at Palgap's comment, but there were differences.
Hangzhou boasted taverns; Kaifeng, teahouses. Pride in its former capital status favored tea over liquor.
Poets said you hadn't lived until reciting verses over tea here.
Not far from Hubei, I'd visited often in my past life—geography felt familiar.
"We can grab jerky there."
"Didn't expect a dried goods shop in a place like that."
The Seo-u Warrior marveled.
We hadn't stumbled on it by chance—I'd led us there.
Their jerky was top-notch.
I bought extra beyond our needs.
Palgap tilted his head.
"Why so much?"
"Got uses for it."
Munching as we shopped, lunchtime neared.
I glanced back casually.
A beggar with a bowl, panhandling.
Acting natural, but he couldn't evade my senses.
He'd tailed us everywhere, begging at each stop.
Indifferent folk might miss it, but same aura repeatedly? And memorizing faces was my specialty.
His waist sash: three knots.
Beggars' Sect disciple, high rank.
Made sense—they knew me as part of the Nine Great Sects.
So a senior operative shadowing for intel.
Worked in my favor.
I approached, tore off extra jerky, and dropped it in his bowl.
"Aigoo, thank you, sir."
"Curious about me, huh?"
"Pardon? What do you mean?"
"You know who I am—why play dumb?"
"……."
His eyes darted.
"Hungry? This jerky's a delicacy."
"……Gulp."
Beggars' Sect or not, a beggar's a beggar.
He wrestled temptation, then snatched and devoured it.
"Water too."
I poured from my canteen into his bowl; he gulped it down.
"More jerky?"
"A-hem, no, I'm fine."
But his eyes locked on the piece in my hand.
Tasting fame made it irresistible.
As the saying goes: the scariest flavor is the one you know.
"Not to your taste? Guess it's no good."
"A-hem. N-no, that's not……."
"Then have some more?"
I offered; he grabbed and wolfed it.
I flashed a merchant's smile.
"Time to pay for the jerky?"
"Pardon?"
"Didn't say it was free."
"……."
He protested, flustered.
"W-what law says that? Alms to beggars expect no return!"
"Really?"
I grinned.
"Frankly, isn't almsgiving hoping for blessings in return? At least for me. Sure, pure altruists exist—saints, really."
I pressed on.
"But I'm not that saintly."
"Seonhyeopmirang lives up to the rumors……."
"Good and evil are relative, no? Not saintly to someone tailing me."
"……!"
He flinched.
"W-what do you want from me? Not money from a beggar."
"Information."
"Buying info for jerky? Even merchants have shame!"
"Impatient much? When did I say 'buy'?"
"You didn't?"
"Nope."
"A-hem. Then what?"
He coughed, tangled in my rhetoric.
"Your sect leader's in Kaifeng, right?"
"……!"
"I want to meet him."
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.
Moments later.
We headed to the Beggars' Sect main branch, guided by my jerky-fed beggar.
"H-here."
He led us to a shabby building with a modest plaque overhead.
[Beggars' Sect Main Branch]
The sect shunned ostentation, so the sign was plain.
Beggars lounged out front, scratching bellies—but their eyes scanned sharply.
One queried as we neared.
"What?"
"Guests."
"Guests? Handsome face…… bear-like servant…… no way, Seonhyeopmirang?"
I smiled.
"You recognize me. More famous than I thought. May we enter?"
He nodded.
I bowed and stepped inside.
Exterior shabby? Interior worse.
Classic Beggars' Sect.
"This way."
Our guide led to the rear garden.
A white-haired beggar sat under a tree.
Nine knots on his sash.
His staff: the sect leader's relic.
We bowed respectfully.
"This lowly merchant, Eun Seo-ho, greets the Sect Leader."
"Hm……."
He looked up leisurely.
"So you wanted to see me?"
"Yes."
"They call you Seonhyeopmirang, but you're a merchant at heart. What profit brings you to this old beggar?"
"First, my token of esteem."
I offered a bill of exchange. His brows shot up.
"Bit much for mere esteem?"
"True. It's also for a small request."
"Request?"
"Yes."
I nodded.
"Soon, folks seeking my info will come here. Tell them we're heading to Guangdong."
"But that's not your real destination."
Beggars' Sect Leader indeed.
He knew.
"Feeding our clients false info? What of our reputation?"
"Just once. After, reveal the truth."
"……."
"Famine making begging tough lately?"
"……."
"If not interested, forget it. Return the bill."
"Hey now!"
He nodded, expression conflicted.
"Fine. Once."
"Thank you."
The top intel networks: Haomen and Beggars' Sect.
Control them, job done.
Next: Haomen.
Costly, but safety trumped coin—we could earn more.
And I'd bill the Emperor, interest included.
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.
.
The next morning.
We boarded the inn-arranged boat at the docks and set off for Lanzhou in Gansu.
A day after Eun Seo-ho's group departed.
A band arrived in Kaifeng.
"They must've stopped here to cross the river. Query Haomen and Beggars' Sect."
"Yes!"
Soon, they returned with identical reports.
"Headed south."
"Matches our intel—toward Guangdong."
"As expected. Let's go!"
"Yes!"