novelSusiti Chapter 28 Call me Zhao Erlang, the timely rain Zhao Erlang
Chapter 28 Call me Zhao Erlang, the timely rain Zhao Erlang
After bidding farewell to their loved ones, Li Xuan and Li Ji suppressed their sadness and rowed their famous boat northward to Haizhou, the front line between the two countries. With the help of their old friends in Haizhou, they abandoned the river and entered the sea, traveling a distance of more than ten miles by sea to reach Zhou territory.
After obtaining their identities as Goryeo merchants at the harbor, the two brothers hired six donkey carts to transport their men and their goods, and swaggered towards Bianliang.
The reason for choosing to cross the border from Haizhou to this seaport is that when Chai Daguanren and his brothers said goodbye last year, they gave him a token to keep in touch with this place.
Thanks to Chai Da Guanren's token, the Zhou State's inspection office didn't say anything and smoothly processed their entry procedures, without even levying taxes on the goods carried on board.
Unfortunately, the contact person left by Chai Da Guanren can no longer be found here. With the end of the sea salt trade, the temporary function of this port disappeared, and the strictness of its management naturally declined sharply.
After a long and winding journey, they arrived near Bianjing. It was the off-season for farmers after spring plowing, and the canal south of Bianjing was a busy construction site. Countless laborers were working hard, like ants, going up and down. The Zhou Dynasty was making every effort to widen and deepen the Tongji Canal!
Li Xuan and Li Ji's eyes twitched. The new emperor of Zhou had only been on the throne for a few months, and last autumn they had fought a major battle involving 60,000 to 70,000 people. This spring, the massive renovation and expansion of the Tongji Canal clearly indicated that they intended to continue the project.
Many people may not know what the Tongji Canal is. It is part of the ancient Grand Canal, connecting Bianjing (Kaifeng) to the Huai River. The southernmost outlet of the Grand Canal is in Shouzhou. This is also why the Southern Yu Kingdom specifically established the Qinghuai Military Garrison and deployed its strongest troops from the northern frontier in Shouzhou.
Li Ji remarked in his thick Guangling Mandarin, "No wonder last autumn, His Majesty dispatched Commander Liu to inspect the Jiangbei border defenses, rectify the military discipline of each garrison, and appointed Commander Liu as the military governor of Qinghuai Garrison."
Li Xuan nodded and said, "Last year there was war, this year the canal is being expanded, and who knows, next year there might be another war. This Zhou emperor has quite the ambition. Let's go to Bianliang and ask Master Chai, or at the very least, the Iron-Pen Scholar, and see if they have anything to say."
Li Ji gave a wry smile: "These two people's identities are fabricated. Once the salt trade is over, why would they reappear?"
Li Xuan knew, of course, that these people used aliases when they went out, but unfortunately, they didn't have many connections in Bianjing and were of very low status, so he had to find a way to use each and every one of them.
The group arrived at the gates of Bianjing City. Interestingly, Bianjing itself was undergoing a major construction project, seemingly building a large military camp and outer city.
Li Xuan finally clicked his tongue in astonishment: "This can't be right! They're building canals, recruiting soldiers, and constructing outer city walls. Is the Zhou Kingdom that rich? Have they struck gold?"
Not only at the construction site, but also outside the city gate, there was a row of recruitment posts where many eligible men were signing up to join the army.
Although joining the army meant getting tattoos on your face and facing life-threatening dangers, being officially part of the military meant receiving meals and a monthly salary—a truly invaluable opportunity. The expressions on the faces of the people queuing revealed that joining the Imperial Guard was incredibly attractive to many men from poor families.
Li Xuan and Li Ji had come all this way not to get their faces tattooed and become soldiers. The two brothers didn't rush into the city, but stopped their carts at a tea stall outside the city, preparing to find a temporary place to settle down. The place couldn't be small; it not only had to accommodate more than twenty people, but also had to have space to store three carts of goods.
After sitting down and drinking a bowl of tea, Li Ji took two people to the construction site to gather information. Li Xuan instructed the others to keep an eye on the goods, while he led his men into the city to find a real estate agent to rent a suitable house.
Despite repeated wars, Bianjing's real estate industry remained prosperous and professional, thanks to its advantageous location at the crossroads of land and water. The broker, understanding Li Xuan's requirements, quickly and efficiently selected suitable properties.
At Li Xuan's request, he rented a large house for them in the outer city. The house had walls that could keep out petty thieves, and it also had enough warehouse space to store goods and protect them from the sun and rain.
After renting the house, Li Xuan led everyone into the city in donkey carts from the tea stall. After unloading the goods, they settled the remaining payment at the inn. These drivers would rest their donkeys in Bianjing, then pick up some jobs along the way to return to their hometowns.
Everyone here is used to traveling and is good at managing their lives. Li Ji and his men not only inquired about the construction site in Bianjing, but also bought ingredients from the meat and vegetable stalls. With the help of more than twenty people, their first meal after arriving in Bianjing was ready.
After dinner, Li Xuan and Li Ji held a meeting in a room to discuss their future.
Li Ji first recounted the news he had gathered that day about the Zhou court's simultaneous undertaking of massive construction projects. It turned out that the Zhou state had confiscated the treasures of Buddhist and Taoist temples and monasteries throughout the country, accumulating so much wealth that the national treasury couldn't hold it all. The Zhou emperor, with a grand gesture, recruited new soldiers, expanded Bianjing (Kaifeng), and developed the Grand Canal. The laborers he hired were not only provided with daily meals but also received a daily wage of fifty coins.
The laborers, receiving grain and money from the imperial court, survived the spring famine and even brought some extra money home. This allowed the desolate villages and towns of Zhou to quickly recover, making it a unique form of work-for-relief program.
Li Xuan sighed, "Many people can think of using work relief instead of economic relief, but in times of chaos, very few are willing to take out money for such purposes. Let alone target temples. Emperor Zhou's audacity was truly remarkable. There were 480 temples in the Southern Dynasties, with countless pavilions shrouded in mist and rain. The emperors of Jinling certainly did not have this kind of courage."
A hint of unease flashed across Li Ji's face as he changed the subject, saying, "We've come all this way not to be lowly soldiers. My sister-in-law is still worried at home, and my nephews are waiting for us to make our mark. Brother, do you have any plans for the next step?"
Li Xuan had thought about this question many times on the way here. He said to Li Ji, "You silly boy, have you forgotten what kind of family we are? Our family has been descended from the Jiangxia Li family for thousands of years. There are no relatives of the Guangling Li family in Bianliang, but perhaps there are some in the Jiangxia Li family? Even if there are none, can we try to establish a connection with any family that has a history with our Guangling Li family?"
Even your sister-in-law comes from the Feng clan of Bohai, and some of her members served in the court during Emperor Zhaozong's reign. Don't you have any relatives or acquaintances from the Feng clan in Bianliang now? We're already shameless enough to live off your sister-in-law at home; now we shouldn't worry about saving face. Having someone introduce you is a hundred times better than starting from scratch all by yourself.”
"Then what do we do?" Li Ji asked.
Li Xuan tapped his younger brother on the head: "You think of something. You're not allowed to sleep until you come up with an answer. I'm going to check if the brothers are living peacefully and if any of the sentries are slacking off."
After returning from their trip, Li Xuan inquired about Li Ji's thoughts. Li Ji was a clever and cultured man; if he was pushed a little, he would surely come up with a solution.
Li Ji said, "To discuss kinship, we should first look at surnames. Let's prepare some money and ask the clerks in the Kaifeng Prefecture. They should know if there are any ancestors of the Li family in the court from the Guangling or Jiangxia Li families, or even the Bohai Feng family, which is a prominent family. People with the surname Feng are not common, so if there are even one or two, they will surely remember them."
"You're absolutely right. I've already arranged with a familiar merchant this afternoon to act as a middleman, and I'll visit the Registrar of the Kaifeng Prefecture the day after tomorrow." Li Xuan had actually managed to get things done before even having dinner.
Li Ji was not surprised by such high efficiency. In chaotic times, everyone is very direct, okay? Even an emperor doesn't show any courtesy. When giving gifts to officials, there's no need to go through back channels. When arranging to meet someone, there's naturally no restraint.
The position of Registrar of Households was a lucrative one, and reaching that level would inevitably bring in a lot of money.
He was worried that the two days would be too rushed. After completing this trade of southern goods, they still needed to leave enough for the wages of their many brothers and retainers. There would be plenty left over for the Li brothers, but he was afraid that a big shot like the Registrar of Household Affairs would become too demanding and that even if they gave him all of it, it wouldn't be enough. So he hurriedly asked, "With only one day, I'm afraid we won't be able to find a suitable treasure to present as tribute."
Li Xuan had a plan in mind: "I've inquired around. Although this Registrar of Household Affairs is greedy, he's a decent man. He'll definitely do things if he takes money. Even if outsiders come to him for favors, he won't speak ill of them. We brothers are just inquiring about personal matters; it's nothing important to the court."
What's unusual is that he, the son of a general from the Imperial Guard, actually has a fondness for literature. I happen to have a piece of Xi Family Ink on me; Xi Family Ink is renowned throughout the land and is rare in the north, so giving it to him would be appropriate. As for other things, I'll just prepare some fine silks."
Li Ji shook his head: "What kind of world is this? Literary families are all about martial arts, and the sons of military families are all about showing off their refined tastes."
Two days later, the Li brothers changed into new clothes and took some fine silk from the south to find the military advisor surnamed Cao. This military advisor was called Zhao Er by everyone in Bianjing.
However, the Li brothers were not in a position to say such things at this moment. They presented gifts and addressed Zhao as "Master Zhao": "Li Xuan and Li Ji of Guangling greet Master Zhao. May Master Zhao be well."
Zhao Er was said to be a pretentious scholar, but as a child he spent his time hanging out in the streets with his older brother Zhao Da. He only had a superficial understanding of what he read. Anyway, Old Master Zhao was illiterate, and he was already very satisfied to see that Zhao Da and Zhao Er could read and read books. His only skill was his ability to judge people. He could figure out a person's worth in no time, which was quite remarkable.
My keen eyes witnessed the Li brothers' impeccable manners and gentlemanly bearing today, and I felt a pang of shame. Adding to this, I had just received the rare gift of Xi Jiamo, and my hands were trembling with embarrassment. I quickly rose and bowed, saying:
"I dare not accept the title of 'Great Official.' You two brothers are truly outstanding talents of the South, with exceptional bearing that sets you apart from ordinary people. I, Zhao Er, am filled with envy. Although this is our first meeting, it is just like that—a gentle breeze, yes, a gentle breeze. If you do not mind, you may call me Zhao Erlang. I, Zhao Er, do not possess any great abilities, but I would prefer to make friends with heroes from all corners of the land. Since you two think highly of me, I will certainly do my best. I wonder what advice you two brothers may have for me?"
Upon their first meeting, Li Xuan dared not be arrogant and cautiously explained his purpose:
"To my shame, since the collapse of the previous dynasty, my ancestor originally intended to live in Yangzhou to study. However, when it came to my brothers' generation, because we were from a distant branch of the family, we could not even continue our studies. Therefore, we took our families out to travel around and do business. Whenever I think about this, I feel extremely sad."
The other day, we transported a batch of goods from the south to Bianjing. We heard that the officials in Bianjing intended to revitalize the country and recruit talents from all directions. My brothers and I thought we knew a little about writing and were skilled in martial arts, so we had a wild idea: we could find a job in Bianjing, which would be more prestigious than being merchants.
"I specifically asked an old friend in Bianjing for a recommendation, and the first person he recommended was Master Zhao. He said that among the heroes of Bianjing, Master Zhao is the most public-spirited, righteous, and generous. Our brother's matter is not a problem for Master Zhao. That's why I've come to see Master Zhao today."
"It's Zhao Erlang!" Zhao Erlang became even more enthusiastic upon hearing that the two men were there to curry favor with officials.
"Yes, yes, it's Erlang. I'm so confused, so confused. That's why I came to find you today. I wanted to ask if there are any officials from the south in Bianjing, especially those with the surname Li, particularly officials from the Jiangxia Li clan, or if any members of the Bohai Feng clan are serving in Bianjing. I was hoping to find some old friends and relatives to get a letter of recommendation so I could get a government position," Li Xuan said, explaining his purpose.
Zhao Er, the second official, suddenly realized that this matter wasn't difficult to handle. Simply accepting so many gifts for finding someone would not only damage his reputation but also fail to showcase his abilities, and would make the Li brothers look down on him. Besides, this recommendation...
He chuckled and said, "No wonder you brothers sought me out as a Registrar of Household Affairs. There are indeed officials from the Jiangxia Li clan in the court, and they are even close advisors to the Emperor. You brothers are truly fortunate. But if I may be so bold as to ask, do you brothers intend to pursue a career in literature or military affairs?"
"Naturally, we'll choose martial arts. In this world, it's difficult to make a living through literature. Besides, my brothers and I have practiced martial arts for many years and are confident in our strength. The other day, we saw the recruitment notice at the city gate, and the requirements are as easy as taking candy from a baby for us," Li Xuan replied.
Zhao Er slammed his fist on the table and asked urgently, "May I give it a try?"
Li Xuan and Li Ji exchanged a glance and asked confidently, "How do we test it?"
Zhao Er immediately led his two brothers back to the Zhao family mansion. As the family of a high-ranking general in the Imperial Guard, his (father's) house had a large training ground in the backyard.
Upon arriving at the training ground, Zhao Erlang revealed his plan: "Brothers Li, if you wish to meet the relatives of the Jiangxia Li clan, your brother will naturally not act as a villain. I will give you your names and addresses later. However, recruiting talent is the government's intention. Finding good talent will be considered a meritorious deed."
Although I am but a lowly Registrar of Households, I am ambitious. Rest assured, as long as you truly possess genuine talent and ability, I will immediately take you to meet the Emperor's trusted and beloved general. He is in charge of recruiting military talent for the Emperor. I dare say that even if your relatives were to intervene, they wouldn't find a better way."
"So that's how it is," Li Xuan and Li Ji understood, and felt a touch of excitement.
After only a breath, Li Xuan said frankly, "Very well, please lend me your bow and arrows. I am accustomed to using a three-stone bow and am willing to shoot twelve arrows as a test."
Zhao Er was overjoyed; he had met a remarkable person!
He ordered someone to present him with a precious bow made of three stones. At a distance of one hundred paces from the target, Li Xuan and Li Ji shot a total of twenty-four arrows, all of which hit the target, with eighteen of them hitting the bullseye.
Zhao Er shouted, "Excellent! Great archery! Bring the wine!"
After finishing a large bowl of wine, Li Xuan and Li Ji borrowed horses and demonstrated their archery skills in the courtyard. The two used a single-stone horse bow to fire 36 shots, hitting the target 29 times out of 36. They then raised their spears and repeatedly stabbed at straw targets, their accuracy and skill demonstrated by the combined strength of the horses and their riders. In just over a quarter of an hour, Zhao Er, having already grasped the two men's martial arts prowess, had no further doubts.
He immediately took his two brothers to the palace to meet Pan Mei, the deputy envoy of the West Upper Gate. Pan Mei was cautious by nature and tested the Li brothers again. He was delighted to find that he had really met a treasure today. They were actually two people who were both literate and martial.
Pan Mei was very astute; she knew Zhao Er had connections. Not only did she immediately bring the Li brothers to the palace for an audience after the test, but she also brought Zhao Er along to await his reward. Zhao Er happily followed behind Pan Mei, showing no sign of having any great ambitions.