After passing through Daming Prefecture, there were more people on the road. The refugees who had fled during the war were gradually returning, and with the withdrawal of garrison troops from the three counties, there were significantly more government soldiers here than before. On the main road, one could frequently see government soldiers in bright armor speeding by.
Among the travelers were not only common folk carrying their belongings but also many people with a wealthy appearance on tall horses, speaking with foreign accents.
"Why are there so many outsiders?" some locals asked in confusion, "They don't seem like refugees."
Besides, who would flee to this place? It's the northern border, where the Jurchen army is gathering. Although there's a peace agreement now and no war, it's still quite intimidating.
"These aren't refugees," a passerby shook his head, "how could refugees dress like this? These are all merchants."
Wherever there are people, there is business. This is nothing strange. However, under Duke of Chengguo's rule, the two routes in Hebei have strictly controlled merchants for over a decade.
In the northern lands, business can, of course, be conducted, but Duke of Chengguo has rigidly supervised their separate registration and designated business locations, requiring reports for movement between prefecture offices, not to mention prohibiting any approach to fort borders.
"Things are different now," someone whispered, "Uncle Qinghe said that the northern lands have been beleaguered by wars for years, and prosperity is needed to strengthen the military, so merchants are becoming active."
The locals seemed to understand yet not understand.
"What kind of business is there to do here?" everyone shook their heads, "It's so dangerous, aren't they afraid of losing everything?"
"Who knows. Merchants are the best at pursuing profit; since there's money to be made, they fear nothing," a passerby shrugged and pointed ahead with his head, "Look at how many are lined up waiting at the checkpoint."
Though allowing merchants to move freely, the checkpoints were still stringent, and many were turned away.
"Lord Sun, we just want to do some business, why won't you let us through?" the rejected people asked, worried and frustrated.
The general referred to as Lord Sun maintained a cold expression.
"No reason," he said.
Indeed, this general was clearly an old hand, deeply influenced by Duke of Chengguo's strong-arm tactics.
However, now it was no longer Duke of Chengguo's reign, and Duke of Chengguo had rebelled and fled. Why still act tough? The merchants blocked outside the checkpoint did not disperse immediately and were making a ruckus outside.
The heavy fur curtain fell, instantly shutting out the noise from outside.
"See, this curtain is different," said a man in his fifties with thin eyebrows and a long face, holding the curtain and speaking with a thick southern accent, "It's really a good thing."
A general sitting inside the room chuckled.
"What's so good about a ragged curtain?" he said, taking a big gulp of tea and propping his legs up on the table, his armor making a clattering sound, and this rough action also expressed an intimidating presence.
"Lord Song, don't underestimate this ragged curtain. Take it to our south, and you can earn ten coins for just one piece," the man said in a soft voice.
General Song laughed heartily again.
"You value ten coins?" he laughed.
"For a businessman, money doesn't come in sizes. Every bit counts," the man said with a smile, sitting opposite General Song, "So, Lord Song, in your eyes, the northern lands may be barren, but to us, they're filled with wealth."
General Song snorted with his moustache.
"I'm just a soldier and don't understand your lines of work," he said, his squinted eyes glittering, "I only know that the place you're going is not suitable. There aren't many ragged curtains near the three counties of Baozhou, Xiongzhou, and Bazhou, are you planning to do business with the Jurchen people?"
Doing business with the Jurchen people in the northern lands would be deemed as espionage, a grave crime punishable by immediate execution.
The man was not intimidated by this threat, he remained calmly seated.
"Lord, those words are killing me," he said with a smile, "You can fight fearlessly against the Jurchen, we might love money, but compared to life and death, what's money? If you aren't afraid of life and death in the face of the Jurchen, we certainly won't trade with them for mere coins."
General Song was pleased with the flattery, changing the posture of his legs resting on the table.
"Good to know," he said, "Don't mess with things you shouldn't for the sake of money."
The man responded with a smile, slightly bowing as he took out a handkerchief to wipe the nonexistent dust off General Song's boots.
"Lord, these boots are well worn," he remarked.
General Song gave a casual acknowledgement.
"There's never enough military funds to waste on attire; keeping the soldiers well-fed and their weapons supplied is most important," he said.
The man nodded repeatedly in agreement.
"Our family deals in fur goods; we have plenty of boots and coats," he stated sincerely, "With winter coming, I hope you and the soldiers can keep warm, though it's not much, just two carts' worth."
He gestured outside as he spoke.
Through the half-open window, one could see two carts parked in the courtyard, piled high and covered thoroughly with cloth.
General Song squinted his eyes.
"Very well, then. I'll thank you on behalf of the soldiers," he said, pulling out a document from his boot and flinging it, "Remember to do honest business."
The man happily accepted the document with respect and bowed deeply.
"Rest assured, my lord," he responded earnestly, "We understand, without stability, we have no business, nor can we make money."
The man retreated respectfully, while the general didn't move. Shortly, a clerk came in from outside, whispered a few words to the general with a hint of something joyous, unable to contain his laughter.
The general laughed as well but then glared.
"Compose yourself, you're showing ignorance," he admonished.
The clerk stifled his laughter but soon chuckled again.
The general didn't hold it against him, idly shaking his propped-up leg.
Outside was a commotion of footsteps, along with sounds of obstruction.
"Lord Sun, you can't go in."
"Lord Sun, Lord Song is resting."
Upon hearing this, Lord Song's relaxed expression vanished.
"My lord, let me handle him," the clerk quickly offered.
General Song kicked the table away and strode out, with another general already pushing past the soldiers in the courtyard. Seeing General Song coming, he halted.
"Lord Sun, what's the matter?" General Song asked indifferently.
Lord Sun looked at him.
"Why are you allowing these merchants to go to the border?" he demanded.
"What do you mean by releasing?" Lord Song said coldly, "The northern lands are stable now, and people doing business travel everywhere. Why shouldn't they be released?"
"The Jurchen people have already penetrated our northern lands; we must strictly investigate and guard against spies entering." Lord Sun said.
Lord Song shook his head.
"Let me tell you, young Sun, you're thinking wrong here. These people are just doing business, how could they become spies?" he said. "Think about it, if they become spies and the Jurchen people ravage the northern lands, what benefits would they get? It would be like courting death. These businessmen are not stupid."
Lord Sun looked at him solemnly.
"You underestimate these businessmen. For money, they disregard everything. As long as there are enough profits, they dare to court death." he said, "Lord Song, you're new and don't understand. This is the lesson we've learned with our blood..."
Lord Song's face suddenly changed.
"I'm new? You make it sound like I haven't fought in wars, killed enemies, and understand nothing." He became furious, pointing at General Sun, "Let me tell you, Sun, when I killed Jin thieves back in the day, you were still nursing. You know nothing."
Lord Sun's face stiffened. Suddenly he walked a few steps towards the two vehicles parked in the courtyard, and before anyone could react, he ripped off the covers.
Lord Song and the clerk exclaimed.
With the covers off, piles of leather clothes and boots were revealed.
"What are you doing!" The clerk shouted, jumping over a few steps. "These are for the brothers to use for the winter. The lord specifically asked the businessmen for them out of concern for the brothers..."
Before his words were finished, General Sun kicked the car.
With great strength, the seemingly full car tipped over to one side, accompanied by the clerk's exclamation, and with a loud crash, it overturned, leather boots and clothes fell to the ground, mixed with dazzling white items, causing everyone in the courtyard to be momentarily blinded.
Those were... silver bricks.
Silver ingots and silver bricks rolled among the scattered leather boots and clothes.
The courtyard was silent.
"Lord Song, I don't understand what this means?" General Sun looked at Lord Song coldly and said, "Could it be that the lord also got money from the businessmen as salary for the brothers?"
Lord Song's face went from white to red, suddenly he furrowed his eyebrows.
"Sun, do your job and mind your own business." he shouted.
"Song Zhijie, do you know what you're doing? You're aiding the evildoer, you're going to destroy the foundation of the northern lands..." General Sun shouted angrily, raising his hand to point at General Song.
"I'm aiding the evildoer?" Lord Song's face turned fierce, raising his hand to wave, "Take him down!"
The soldiers in the courtyard snapped out of it and, without hesitation, rushed to pin down Lord Sun.
"What do you want to do?" Lord Sun shouted angrily.
"What do I want to do? I also want to ask you what you want to do?" Lord Song's face was cold, "You make the checkpoints so tight that not even a fly can pass through, causing discontent to spread far and wide. Did you inform the Duke of Chengguo and his son so they could avoid our arrests?"
Lord Sun's face turned red with anger.
"This is absurd, ridiculously absurd." he shouted, struggling.
Lord Song didn't stop, stepping forward.
"Tell me, did the Duke of Chengguo contact you? Did he ask you to do this?" he shouted, eyes shining, "Sun Zhan, you've been with the Duke for ten years..."
"I've not been with anyone for ten years, I have been fighting for the great Zhou for ten years. I follow him as a general, but if he becomes a thief, I will arrest him without hesitation. Song Zhijie, you're framing me!" General Sun shouted in anger.
Lord Song looked down at him.
"Whether it's framing, a check will reveal the truth." he said coldly, waving his hand, "Take him away."
No matter how Lord Sun struggled, the soldiers, like wolves, muzzled him and dragged him away.
"Finally, some peace." The clerk flattering Lord Song with a smile, "The lord is decisive."
Lord Song snorted.
"In the military, we use fists to reason." He said, "Nowadays, whoever has the bigger fist, those who can't see it deserve their own misfortune."
He paused to look at the scattered money and raised his hand.
"Gather these up and send them to Uncle Qinghe."
He paused, considering something.
"Remember to save some for our new year, suppress what needs to be suppressed, reward what needs to be rewarded."
"The lord is wise!" The clerk cheerfully bowed in response.
.....
.....
The checkpoint was already far behind. The road ahead was flat and smooth, yet the driver was not urging the horses to speed but instead looked back.
"I'd rather not have come over." he said.
This driver looked old, wearing a thick hat that covered his unruly hair, appearing rather shabby, but his voice was gentle and clean.
"Father, I know what you mean." said the bearded man riding beside him, solemnly. "We managed to come over like this, other businessmen can come over like this too. They've invested so much money, they won't let it go to waste; they absolutely have to recoup it."
Regarding how they'll recoup, in the face of money and profit, people become frantic and lose all bottom lines.
The driver looked back; his expression turned gloomy for a moment, but he did not sigh again, instead turned to the bearded man.
"There's still no news from Miss Jun." he asked, "Perhaps everything's fine."
The bearded man chuckled.
"Father, you don't know that little rascal." he said, "If she's perfectly safe, she'd definitely let me know to gloat and show off. If she's slightly unwell, that brat would certainly keep it hidden as she wouldn't want me to act as a hero to rescue the damsel."
"Perhaps she knows that you can't play the hero now, going might instead cause more trouble." the driver said kindly.
The bearded man exhaled, flicking the whip in his hand.
"The place for heroes is different." he said, "Let's head to the place where we should be heroes."
With that, he urged his horse to speed.
The driver did not speak further, gently flicking his hand, the horse clip-clopped forward, the flag on the cart flapped in the wind, the people and horses in front and behind moved along, chanting slogans, bustling forward like every other merchant caravan.