We Have Returned to the Central Plains!
While Zhang Qian, master of the Zhang merchant house, rushed about in a whirl of business, Su Shuang, who kept the household accounts, and the lady of the house, Yanhua, were each playing a part of their own.
"If Qian hears of this, I don't know what he'll say."
"Even so, it has to be done. For Baijin's safety, if nothing else."
"He does seem to loathe this sort of thing..."
Zhang Qian did not mind famous scholars calling at the house, but he was growing ever more uneasy at the way Yuan Shao's men kept arriving with demands. Behind his back, however, Su Shuang was quietly filling their purses and sealing their mouths one after another.
Zhang Qian had bought off the men around Yuan Shao one by one, so that he himself would not be in danger. Su Shuang and Yanhua had set their sights on the most important figure of all.
"My lady, have we had an answer from the last visit?"
"You mean Her Ladyship? Yes. We sent ornaments from the Western Regions, and she was most pleased. She promised to speak well of us to the Governor of Jizhou."
The person the two of them had cultivated was none other than Lady Liu, Yuan Shao's later wife, and the mother of Yuan Shang—the third son, and the one he favored most of his three.
A woman of Youzhou who bore the imperial surname Liu, she was beautiful to look upon, and once precious gifts were offered and someone was found to keep her company in talk, she proved remarkably easy to win over.
"If we've won even the heart of the Governor's lady, then Baijin should be in no danger in Yecheng."
"They say the great merchant Lü Buwei, when he made the heir to the King of Qin, bought the hearts of Lady Huayang's household—the wife of Crown Prince Lord Anguo—with endless gold and goods."
"Just so."
Su Shuang had already finished reckoning the cost of the affair with his wife.
"Even without Father-in-law's last wishes, Baijin seems more than eager to leave Yecheng. The money the Governor of Jizhou took in just to mount this expedition into Bingzhou... one look at how the great clans and merchants of Jizhou are groaning tells the tale."
"If it is the master's will—my younger brother's will—then of course we follow. Still, I do worry. If we keep sailing in the same boat as the Governor's house, wouldn't our family at least receive a post as grand administrator, or as general?"
"You're not wrong, my lady. But he must have judged that ending it all with a single grand administrator's seat, bought with a fortune of a thousand gold, would be a poor return. It's clear Baijin is thinking of a far larger board."
Both Su Shuang and Yanhua moved because they trusted Baijin, the master of the house.
And Su Shuang, having heard the news out of Xuzhou and the account Zhang Qian had given him in person, was already calculating how even the money they had barely scraped together in their hasty withdrawal from Jizhou would be enough to plant a foundation in the Central Plains.
A merchant never makes a deal at a loss.
How strange. To think matters would turn like this in a matter of days.
Before the expedition into Bingzhou, I had gone to pay my respects to Yuan Shao and to settle the final negotiations.
To my surprise, Yuan Shao accepted everything with a magnanimous sweep of the hand.
What was more, wearing that same affable smile from our last meeting, he praised me without cease, blessed my road to Xuzhou, and even wrote me a letter of recommendation in his own name.
In this age, the recommendation of a man of renown—a formal nomination—was worth a very great deal, and a recommendation from Yuan Shao was a true treasure.
Nor was Yuan Shao the only one present.
I happened to meet the woman introduced as his wife, Lady Liu, together with their young son. I bowed in haste, but in that brief instant I saw a woman of staggering luxury: a sheer silk veil wound about her head, both hands crowded with gold rings set with jewels.
And the pretty young gentleman clinging to her side was Yuan Shang—the very one who, once grown, would shove his two elder brothers aside, try to swallow all of Hebei whole, and set off the fratricidal collapse.
That I had met not only Yuan Shao but his family by "chance" was no ordinary thing.
"So my brother-in-law and sister have been at work. A little token of sincerity, was it?"
I could see the shape of it at a glance, and I had no mind to scold them.
Still, it had resolved pleasantly enough. Once Yuan Shao left for Bingzhou, we could make haste south to Xuzhou ourselves.
Word had already come from Xuzhou. Liu Bei, recommended by Governor Tao Qian of Xuzhou to the post of Inspector of Yuzhou, was residing in Xiaopei, and that was where I meant to go.
First I would unload our baggage at Xiaopei, then go on to the seat of Xuzhou's government, set eyes on Tao Qian and on those magnates of southern Xuzhou who had never so much as shown their noses, and lay my larger plans for that region in earnest.
When I returned home, there was a figure loitering before the gate.
"Hm?"
He looked to be in his mid-teens, with a face white as snow and features almost too pretty, dressed like the young master of a wealthy house and wrapped, like a grown man, in a long robe.
He kept peering toward our house, so I came up behind him and asked.
"Who are you?"
"Ah!"
"This is my house, you know."
The pretty youth started, then hastily straightened his clothes and bowed low.
"Ah—greetings. I come from the Chen clan of Zhongshan."
"The Chen clan of Zhongshan? The house of Lord Chen, who once served as Magistrate of Shangcai?"
"Yes... that's right."
The Chen clan of Zhongshan Commandery—was this a brother of Chen Yan, who had come to pay condolences at Father's funeral? Now that I looked, there was a resemblance.
"I see. And how did you come to find this place?"
"Well, I... I only told my elder sisters, and came without my elder brother's knowledge."
"Hmm. Is that so? Come inside, then."
For a great clan, the Chen family seemed short of hands. Who sends a child as a guest to our house?
I had heard that the Chen household of Zhongshan Commandery had three sons and five daughters; that the eldest, Chen Yi, had died young; and that the second son, Chen Yan, had become head of the house.
I had never seen them, but the five Chen sisters were said to be exceedingly beautiful, and one in particular was called a beauty to topple kingdoms. Hmm.
"So. What brings you?"
"Do you recall, my lord, that after my elder brother paid his condolences at your residence in Zhongshan, our house sent verses in praise of your deeds in Xuzhou?"
"Ah, of course I remember. Lord Chen sent such fine verses that I kept them, meaning to have them mounted as a hanging scroll."
"Those verses were composed by my elder brother. And afterward our household came to a single mind: we wished to aid your house."
"Aid me? And what is it the Chen clan means to do?"
"Our family's wealth is not great, but if there are household goods you find difficult to dispose of just now, we would gladly buy them."
!?
Fine furnishings, fit to decorate the house of so pretty a youth—we had plenty of those.
I had meant to entrust them to Zhang He and his private soldiers, since putting them on the market would not fetch their worth. If a private sale could be arranged, so much the better.
"Those are truly welcome words. The Chen clan has a sense of honor, as expected."
Ju Shou and Tian Feng had already bought our furnishings and valuables at a fair price, each in his private way, a kind of mutual aid. The Chen clan was doing the same.
"Our house received great kindness from your late father in years past. My elder brother thought of this as a small repayment..."
"Then please tell him I am truly grateful."
It was admirable, in its way.
What did a boy this age know, that he would come in person to speak of his family's affairs in a transaction among adults?
He spoke so clearly and well that I found him endearing, and I reached out to stroke his head.
"Ah..."
"Shy, aren't you. I only patted you because you were admirable, and your whole face has gone red."
"Please... please don't touch the face..."
A face that had never known hardship, smooth white skin, soft hands, large eyes with a pronounced double fold—grow up a little more, and he would be a pretty youth to steal the hearts of any number of women. The way he flushed scarlet with embarrassment caught my eye in particular.
I did not yet know what bond this boy and I might come to share, but for the sake of good faith with the Chen clan, I decided to send him off generously entertained.
"Tell your elder brother this. I receive the kindness with true gratitude, but we are going south."
"South, you say?"
"On the border of Xuzhou and Yuzhou there is a place called Xiaopei. Our whole household is bound there. There may be war, so tell him to think on it once that is over and things have settled."
"Our house as well, from Hebei into the Central Plains... I understand. I will tell my elder brother so."
"Still, you're a guest who came to our house. I ought to send you off with something good. Ying!"
"Yes, Master~"
Huan Ying had come into our household and woven herself in as if she had always belonged, and she was so quick with figures that she had caught Su Shuang's eye, and my sister's, in a single stroke.
"When this friend leaves, send a bolt of good silk with him."
"If it's to be the good silk, we have silk dyed with dyes of the Western Regions, and purple silk from Ba-Shu. Which do you mean?"
"Then give him two bolts."
"Yes, Master!"
I spoke to the youth, who started in surprise as the two bolts were pressed into his arms.
"Tell them at home to have a set of clothes made for each of the family."
"Thank you. Truly, thank you."
Thus I sent even this visiting guest off well entertained, and then we moved in earnest.
Over the course of half a month we liquidated eight-tenths of the household's property and set out.
Not only our own servants, but Zhang He's family and his private soldiers, each bringing their dependents and hauling great wardrobes and even iron cauldrons—the sight set every commoner in Yecheng murmuring.
"A migration on this scale is bound to look like a wonder. And there'll be no bandit raids along the road."
"I worry it may look too splendid."
"Even so, with Brother Junyi here, there's no problem. I'm truly grateful you accepted my request."
"I had no particular design in it."
Zhang He had granted my request, and so he was bringing his entire family and relocating to Xuzhou outright.
In this way Zhang He, a commander dispatched from within Yuan Shao's army, shifted his base of operations entirely to Xuzhou, and came to be tied to Liu Bei and his two brothers, and to the magnates of Xuzhou.
I would have wagered that Zhang He had not yet won any great trust from Yuan Shao—and that, depending on how things moved from here, I could make him ours completely.
It was one of the greatest gains I had made in Yecheng, and the thought of it steadied my heart.
Our party left Yecheng, passed through Xuzhou, and arrived at Xiaopei.
What was truly remarkable was that people had come out to meet us from a hundred li away.
"Aigo, and who is this? To see Merchant Lord Zhang again, come all the long road from Jizhou—how glad I am!"
"Lord Xianhe, it has been a long time."
"Welcome. Have you been well in the meantime?"
"Zilong! You look even better than before."
Zhao Yun and Jian Yong had come in person with the troops of Xiaopei to meet us and guide us in, and my shoulders squared all the more for it.
My brother-in-law Su Shuang and my sister Yanhua looked on this welcome with startled eyes, then nodded.
When we reached Xiaopei, a vast crowd of commoners had gathered within the walls.
"Merchant Lord Zhang has come!"
"The benefactor who saved us has returned!"
"Merchant Lord Zhang, sent down by Heaven! He is our benefactor!"
Tens of thousands of commoners raised their hands as one and cried out ten thousand years, and a thrill ran through my whole body.
All of these were people I had saved. So this was the dopamine of the warlords of this age—I understood it perfectly.
We arrived at the government office of Xiaopei amid a tremendous welcome, and the three brothers—Liu Bei, Guan Yu, and Zhang Fei—came out to receive us.
I dismounted and offered my greeting at once, and Liu Bei seized me by both shoulders.
"You've come. You've truly come."
"I've only come to do business."
"Hahaha, what does the reason matter? I am simply glad to see Zhang Baijin of Jizhou again."
Liu Bei laughed loud and led me inside, together with my sister and her husband.
Within the official residence he set aside a large room where my sister and Huan Ying could stay, and the men took their seats and enjoyed a round of wine.
"Congratulations on being entrusted with Xiaopei."
"Baijin, it has turned out as you said. General Tao wished me to remain here rather than in Pingyuan."
"And what became of the scholars of that time?"
"The Zhuge clan, the Xu clan, the Yan clan, the Bu clan. All of them are well. They've gone out to inspect the counties, but they'll be back before long."
Thank heaven.
"Lord Su, I cannot tell you how glad I am to see you again as well."
"Ha, haha."
"The grace of lending us five hundred horses in Zhuo County seems like only yesterday."
"I knew then that Lord Xuande was a man who would do great things. And the two heroes, Yunchang and Yide, as well."
"Hahahaha, good! Let us drink to friends met again!"
When there was no war, Liu Bei was more open-handed than anyone, and generous with all who came to him.
He drained his cup in one swallow, then came straight over to me and Su Shuang.
"As it happens, I have prepared a great deal for the Baijin household."
"For us, you say?"
"Just so. While we remain here in Xiaopei, we cannot know when the armies of Yanzhou may invade again. We must raise palisades and build walls. We have the manpower and the materials, but we lack officials skilled enough to handle them."
!?
"I would ask you to take charge of the works in this region. Would you be willing?"
"Lord Xuande, where does the budget for the fortification works come from?"
"Ah, the Governor of Xuzhou has said he will send funds for the construction of the forward defensive line."
!!!
The moment I asked the question that mattered most—money—Liu Bei answered at once, and Su Shuang's eyes began to shake like a madman's as his fingers flew through the sums.
It was the look of a man who had landed a major contract the instant he arrived.
Set against the thin ice of Yecheng, where one false step would drop you a thousand fathoms, this place was nothing but soft lawn underfoot.