The shopkeeper opened the money pouch and took a look inside. His heart jumped. The amount of silver and copper within was at least a hundred times the compensation he should have received. Such an excessive sum made his hands feel heavy, and unease crept up his spine.
He hurriedly poured out only a few dozen copper coins and pushed the rest back.
"These are enough. Truly, this is enough," he said earnestly. "I cannot possibly take more than this."
Zheng Gonggong waved his hand, clearly eager to be done with the matter. "It's fine, it's fine. Just take it."
The shopkeeper shook his head even more forcefully. "This is not money I am owed. I really cannot accept it."
Zheng Gonggong's expression collapsed. His eyes reddened, and his voice took on a pleading tone that bordered on sobbing.
"Please, you must take it. If you do not, who knows how many people in the prince's manor will be unable to sleep tonight?"
The shopkeeper stared at him, completely confused. "Huh?"
Zheng Gonggong wiped sweat from his brow and hurried on. "This is the compensation plan our prince personally agreed upon with Dao Xuan Tianzun. Only after Dao Xuan Tianzun found it satisfactory was he willing to spare us. If you refuse to accept it, and Dao Xuan Tianzun's wrath descends again, the prince will surely punish me. Look at me, one of my arms is already broken. Please, shopkeeper, show a little mercy."
Only then did the shopkeeper notice the bandaged arm hanging stiffly in its sling. Cold sweat immediately broke out across his forehead. After hesitating for a long moment, he finally accepted the money pouch with trembling hands.
Seeing this, Zheng Gonggong finally let out a long breath of relief. He clasped his hands in farewell, then quickly slipped into the shop next door, continuing his door to door compensation tour.
The entire farce, from start to finish, was witnessed clearly by the forty-one original villagers of Gao Family Village. They burst into laughter.
"Hahaha! To dare eat without paying right under Dao Xuan Tianzun's watch. That is truly courting death!"
At this moment, the shopkeeper emerged from the kitchen with two steaming bowls of duck blood vermicelli, one in each hand. His eyes flicked across the room, immediately locking onto the Village Chief. Without hesitation, he placed the first bowl respectfully in front of him. The second bowl was set beside it.
While serving, the shopkeeper overheard their conversation about Dao Xuan Tianzun. His merchant instincts stirred. He noticed that everyone in this group wore an embroidered image of Dao Xuan Tianzun on their chest. Some were stitched in gold thread, some in silver, some in plain cotton, and others in bright multicolored thread. One youth who looked only seventeen or eighteen even wore a small metal badge bearing Dao Xuan Tianzun's likeness.
At once, the shopkeeper realized that these outsiders were anything but ordinary.
He leaned closer to the Village Chief, his face full of respectful flattery.
"Old sir," he said carefully, "you seem very knowledgeable about Dao Xuan Tianzun. Might you be…?"
The Village Chief grinned openly.
"We are the very first people in this world to receive Dao Xuan Tianzun's protection."
Understanding dawned immediately. The shopkeeper bowed deeply, his back nearly folding in half.
"Honored sirs," he said earnestly, "please offer guidance to this humble man."
The Village Chief reached out and patted his shoulder.
"What guidance is there to offer? Do not talk nonsense. As long as you do not do evil, and even if you do not perform great deeds, but simply live your life honestly as an ordinary person, Dao Xuan Tianzun will still bless you."
While the original villagers continued exploring Luoyang and quietly waiting for news, far away at Gubai Ferry, Jiang Cheng arrived once again aboard a cargo ship, accompanied by several of his subordinates.
The ferry crossing was peaceful as ever. As the ship docked, a figure slipped out from the reeds by the riverbank. It was a Hui border scout serving under Lao Huihui.
The scout approached quickly and cupped his fists in salute.
"Instructor Jiang," he said, puzzled, "you delivered supplies only a few days ago. It is still early for the next shipment. Why have you come again today?"
Jiang Cheng answered frankly.
"This time, I am here because I have an important request."
The scout was surprised.
"Oh? Is there something our side can assist with?"
Jiang Cheng said, "I have several important people who wish to meet the Chuǎng Wang and speak with him directly."
The scout hesitated.
"This matter exceeds my authority. Please wait a moment, Instructor Jiang. I will go inform my chief."
Before long, Lao Huihui arrived at the riverbank with a troop of cavalry.
After exchanging salutes, Lao Huihui spoke first.
"The Chuǎng Wang is constantly on the move. Even I find it difficult to locate him, and chances to meet are rare. Even if I found him, my status is not enough to ask him to come meet your people. And if I sent your people to him, by the time they arrived and returned, the Chuǎng Wang would likely have moved on again."
This was indeed a problem. Fortunately, the original villagers of Gao Family Village had come prepared.
Jiang Cheng reached into his robes and pulled out a small, old iron hairpin. He handed it to Lao Huihui.
"Show this to the Chuǎng Wang," he said.
Lao Huihui examined the hairpin carefully. It was old and worn, worth almost nothing. It was clearly not a token of love or anything valuable. Yet precisely because of this, Lao Huihui felt it carried weight. The Chuǎng Wang had risen from poverty, and such a humble object could easily touch something deep in his heart.
Understanding flashed across Lao Huihui's face.
"After seeing this, the Chuǎng Wang will voluntarily ask to meet your people?"
Jiang Cheng nodded.
"Have him meet us here at Gubai Ferry."
Lao Huihui cupped his fists.
"Understood."
Jiang Cheng added one more warning.
"Under no circumstances may this hairpin be lost. If you cannot deliver it to the Chuǎng Wang, bring it back to me. Otherwise, a certain young woman will be heartbroken."
Lao Huihui answered solemnly.
"Understood."
Jiang Cheng boarded his ship and departed.
Lao Huihui stood in place for a few moments, then turned to his subordinates.
"Which direction is the Chuǎng Wang heading now?"
One man stepped forward.
"South, near Baisha Lake. He appears to be pursuing Gao Jie. The Chuǎng Wang's subordinate, the Dashing General, is determined to kill Gao Jie. Wherever Gao Jie goes, the Dashing General follows, and wherever the Dashing General goes, the Chuǎng Wang follows."
Lao Huihui shook his head.
"This Chuǎng Wang is far too indecisive. What kind of leader allows himself to be dragged around by his subordinate like this?"
Everyone present knew this well. These days, the Chuǎng Army was practically run by the Dashing General alone.
Lao Huihui made his decision.
"The entire army will move. We will pursue Gao Jie as well. Where Gao Jie is, we will find the Chuǎng Wang."
At the Seventy-Two Families' Xingyang Conference, lots had been drawn to determine the movements of each rebel faction. Lao Huihui had drawn "central support," granting him broad freedom of movement. At the time, it had seemed merely convenient. Now, it proved extremely useful.
He waved his hand decisively.
"Let us go find Gao Jie, the man who famously cuckolded another."
Meanwhile, Lu Xiangheng, the Supreme Commander of five provinces, was leading five thousand troops toward Huashi Town.
Not long ago, he had received intelligence that the bandit chieftains known as the West Camp Eight Great Kings, who had plundered Fengyang, were now active near Huashi Town.
Upon receiving the report, Lu Xiangheng mobilized without hesitation.
He ordered He Renlong and Gao Jie to circle north of Huashi Town.
He himself would lead troops to encircle from the south.
Cao Wenzhao and his nephew Cao Bianjiao were tasked with blocking the west.
Zuo Liangyu would approach from the east.
With four forces converging, Huashi Town would be sealed completely. The West Camp Eight Great Kings would be executed on the spot, washing away the national disgrace of Fengyang.
Orders flew swiftly. Government troops moved with practiced speed, and the encirclement soon took shape. Before long, the West Camp Eight Great Kings had fallen squarely into the trap.
If this battle succeeded, the Fengyang affair would finally be settled.
"Report. Supreme Commander, He Renlong reports that the northern force is in position."
"Report. Cao Wenzhao reports that the western force is in position."
Lu Xiangheng glanced at his own formation. The southern force was also ready.
Only one remained.
Zuo Liangyu's eastern force had yet to appear.
Lu Xiangheng frowned slightly.
That fellow… why was there still no movement from him?