MLMD -Chapter 317 Qian Neng

The black-sailed boat moved swiftly, and before long it had reached the pleasure boat. From there, Yue Yang could already see several people standing at the bow of the black-sailed vessel. Leading them were Chen Dazhi, Chen Zhenhui, and Mao Xiang.

Before the boat even came to a full stop, Mao Xiang leapt up the gangway in a single stride and hurried toward Yue Yang, who was standing on the deck of the pleasure boat. When he reached Yue Yang’s side, he urgently said, “My lord, something has changed…”

Ten minutes later, in a sitting room aboard the pleasure boat, Chen Dazhi, Mao Xiang, and Chen Yizhen sat around a table, their eyes fixed on Yue Yang, expectant expressions on their faces. Yue Yang sat aside, silently playing with a teacup in his hands.

After a long moment, Yue Yang finally asked, “Duke Wei really said that?”

Mao Xiang hurriedly replied, “Yes. Last night, Duke Wei sent someone to the inn to deliver the news overnight. Something has gone wrong. Someone leaked the information, saying that Your Lordship had teamed up with the Duke’s household to aggressively move into Jinling’s salt trade, planning to drive the local salt merchants out. Now, we’ve become public enemies of the salt merchants in Jinling.”

“Not only that,” Chen Zhenhui added, “there are now rumors that we intend to sell refined salt to Jiangnan. These rumors have already started spreading south, and Duke Wei is furious.”

“My lord, what should we do?”

Panic flashed in Mao Xiang’s eyes. Glancing at Chen Zhenhui, Yue Yang noticed from his slightly trembling hands that he was also uneasy, though a bit steadier than Mao Xiang.

Yue Yang did not blame them for their fear. Having grown up in Jinling, they knew just how powerful the salt merchants were in this era—not only in wealth but in political influence. They could push the court to enact policies favorable to them or even remove officials who went against their interests. It would not be an exaggeration to call them audacious.

Some might think that Yue Yang had easily dealt with the salt merchants in Shanxi without any consequences, but he knew that Shanxi’s merchants were mere children compared to those in Jiangnan. Historically, the further south, the stronger the salt merchants’ power—so much so that they could influence local governance and official promotions.

“Do we know who leaked the news?” Yue Yang’s expression darkened. He had only arrived the day before yesterday and met with Duke Wei to discuss a rough plan yesterday. That such news could spread like wildfire in just one day made it almost impossible to believe that no one was scheming behind the scenes.

“I don’t know,” Chen Zhenhui shook his head, ashamed. “It seems to have suddenly appeared. Overnight, nearly all the salt merchants in Jinling knew. I truly have no idea where these rumors came from.”

“Investigate. I want the culprit found!” Yue Yang shouted. “If we don’t find the one hiding in the shadows, then this trip is wasted. And in the future, if we want to advance into Jinling, it will be a hundred times harder than today!”

“But my lord, we…” Chen Zhenhui hesitated, aware that despite his connections in Jinling, he couldn’t trace the source of the rumors in such a vast city.

“You won’t be investigating personally,” Yue Yang said with a sidelong glance and a smile. “This isn’t your specialty. Take my token, go to a fabric shop on Shuanghou Street, show them the token, and give my order to the shopkeeper. He must get to the bottom of this as quickly as possible and report back to me in two days. Remember—I only want results.”

Though Yue Yang spoke with a smile, Chen Zhenhui felt a chill run down his spine. He knew for certain that his master was extremely angry—and if things went poorly, someone would be in trouble.

As dusk approached, two crows flew low overhead, their cawing grating on the nerves. In a small courtyard, an elderly man with graying hair and a long gray robe walked slowly, leaning on a cane. Up close, his hair was almost completely white, and his face lined with deep wrinkles.

If Yue Yang were to see him, he would undoubtedly exclaim in shock. This was none other than Wang Shoucheng, the patriarch of the Wang family that had dominated Yingzhou Prefecture five years ago.

But Wang Shoucheng was no longer the commanding figure he had been; now he was a frail old man clinging to life.

“Creak…”

A small door opened, and a young man in a blue robe entered. He bore some resemblance to Wang Shoucheng—this was Wang Chenglin, the man who had once fought Yue Yang with weapons.

Wang Chenglin respectfully approached his father and bowed his head. “Father, as per your instructions, I hired some idle ruffians, hangers-on, and thugs to spread the news. Now, in the entire city of Jinling, only the deaf would be unaware of this matter.”

Wang Shoucheng nodded, his hoarse voice trembling. “Lin’er, we shouldn’t have gotten involved in this at all. That Yue person is now a Marquis, commanding great forces. He’s not someone a merchant family like ours can afford to offend. But since you insist on venting your grievance, I have no choice but to follow along. I only hope this doesn’t bring disaster upon our Wang family.”

Hearing Yue Yang’s name, Wang Chenglin’s face twisted in rage. “That Yue Yang—he killed members of our family and brought us to this plight. How can we not take revenge? Five years have passed. Our family must tread carefully in Jinling, while that villain keeps rising. Now that he’s here to compete with the salt merchants, I want to see how he dies!”

Wang Shoucheng closed his eyes, sighing. “One wrong step and everything is lost. If our relations with Yue Yang had not soured, our family could still be thriving in Yingzhou. Jinling may be prosperous, but who sees the struggles of survival here?”

Looking at his father, who at just fifty had hair as white as a seventy-year-old, Wang Chenglin clenched his fists, eyes full of hatred. “Father, you are mistaken. In struggles between two powers, there is no room for retreat. I regret not striking that miscreant at the Hundred Flowers Pavilion, letting him grow strong and bring disaster. Now he dares come to Jinling to take our place among the salt merchants—I will not miss this chance for revenge!”

Since moving to Jinling, the Wang family had struggled to establish themselves. Once among the top four families in Yingzhou, they were now but a small fish among the city’s nobles. Wang Shoucheng had exhausted himself to ensure their survival, but after five years, the family was at best a comfortable merchant household.

By chance, Wang Chenglin saw Yue Yang in the streets. Surprised and elated, he secretly followed Yue Yang to his inn, inquired about his movements, and discovered the meeting between Duke Wei and Yue Yang. After careful planning, father and son devised a scheme to make Yue Yang the public enemy of Jinling’s salt merchants.

Though the fire was set, Wang Shoucheng grew fearful. As he knew, the person who knows you best is often your enemy. Should Yue Yang discover the truth, he could crush them with a mere flick of his finger. Yet Wang Shoucheng, a lifetime merchant, would not sit idle. “Lin’er, the deed is done; now we must not intervene further. Let the salt merchants and Yue Yang fight it out. We just watch. If Yue Yang learns it was our doing, our family will have no burial place. Understand?”

“Father, I understand!” Wang Chenglin replied, still seething with hatred but knowing the importance of discretion.

Meanwhile, Yue Yang led nearly a thousand soldiers, escorting cannons to the training grounds on Jinling’s western outskirts. This was the largest drill field in Jinling and home to Duke Wei’s garrison of a thousand troops.

Duke Wei did not wear his usual ceremonial robe but a pair-breasted battle coat with an eight-petal iron helmet, iron boots, and a sword at his waist—looking every bit the part of a commander.

Seeing Yue Yang’s orderly troops approaching, Duke Wei asked a nearby eunuch, “Qian Gonggong, how do you find Marquis Yue’s troops?”

The eunuch, responsible for garrison oversight, nodded. “Though I know little of military affairs, the formation alone proves Marquis Yue’s reputation is well-earned.”

Duke Wei laughed, “Indeed. Marquis Yue has performed great deeds for the court. We should not be too harsh.”

Qian Neng, the eunuch, added with a forced smile, “Yes. Today, I accompany His Lordship to witness firsthand the prowess of the Ming’s most capable marquis.”

The two sides met, Yue Yang saluted, and Duke Wei praised his arduous journey bringing the cannons. Yue Yang gestured to a long line of cannons behind him.

“I’ve delivered the cannons. Please inspect them,” he said.

Duke Wei examined the smooth barrels carefully, noting the craftsmanship, then said, “Excellent. Though we must still test-fire them. Marquis Yue, shall we proceed?”

“By all means,” Yue Yang replied, ordering the officer to unload the cannons and prepare for firing at a hill two li away.

In less than a quarter-hour, under the effort of hundreds of gunners, the cannons were arranged in four rows of ten, with lead balls and gunpowder ready. Duke Wei and his officers were astonished.

The officer reported, “Sir, the cannons are ready for firing.”

Yue Yang nodded. “Fire at the hill two li ahead.”

A series of deafening explosions followed, black cannonballs arching through the air, most landing on the hill. The distant impacts could still be heard faintly on the training ground.

“Good!” Duke Wei exclaimed, satisfied. “Marquis Yue, these cannons are excellent. Let’s go inside for tea.”

“Your command, of course,” Yue Yang said, smiling as they walked to a pavilion on the east side of the field. Qian Neng was already waiting.

Qian Neng served tea and said, “Marquis Yue, thank you for bringing the cannons for Jinling’s defense. On behalf of the court and Duke Xu, we are grateful.”

Yue Yang nodded politely. “Qian Gonggong, all in service of the court and the people.”

Qian Neng secretly cursed Yue Yang for being impervious to flattery but maintained a smiling face. He added, “Marquis Yue, your loyalty is known. But you may not know—just yesterday, the Japanese pirates who landed have retreated again.”

“What… the pirates retreated?” Yue Yang was stunned. He had traveled thousands of li to deliver cannons, only to hear the pirates had already left. Was this to cancel the transaction?

Seeing Yue Yang’s expression darken, Duke Wei quickly said, “Marquis Yue, don’t misunderstand. Qian Gonggong merely mentioned it casually. The cannons you brought, we still intend to purchase at the agreed price.”

“Ah, I see,” Yue Yang said, relaxing slightly. But he knew the matter wasn’t yet over. He smiled at Qian Neng, “Qian Gonggong, I suppose you didn’t come merely to tell me this?”