Once the members of the Zheng entourage had receded into the distance, Wang Huadu stepped forward with the look of a man who had just cheated death. "Xiao—Brother Shao, you truly made my jaw drop just now. You were so steady."
Shao Shuyi subtly moved his stiffened limbs, wiped away his sweat unseen, and turned around to face the three men gathered around him. Forcing a smile, he said, "The Zheng family has a vast enterprise and business interests everywhere. They have countless places that need hands, and they are thirsting for talent. Why would they drive people away? Furthermore, Third Young Master has just taken charge. It is the very moment to revitalize affairs and sweep away accumulated abuses. During a transition like this, reliable hands are scarcer than ever. That is precisely our opportunity."
"Brother Shao, did you think of all this right from the start?" Wang Huadu asked in astonishment.
Shao Shuyi had half a mind to brag and claim that he had calculated everything from the beginning, but in the end he did not. He merely smiled and said, "On the way from Zhangjing to the celadon shop, I thought it through carefully and decided to take a gamble. If it failed, we would just run. Third Young Master had no reason to insist on capturing us. Against just those three or four retainers, we might not have lacked a fighting chance."
Having killed two men in succession, Shao Shuyi had grown a bit reckless. He was beginning to feel that no matter how formidable a person's martial skills were, a single gunshot would bring them down. Yu Yuan had been carrying a loaded hand cannon for him, ready to fire at any moment; seizing an opportunity to lay one man low was well within the realm of possibility.
Cheng Ji wielded an infantry bow with consummate skill. Bringing down one man would be effortless for him, and slaying two would hardly be a surprise.
Thus, with an infantry bow controlling the field, Yu Yuan reloading, and himself and Wang Huadu putting up a desperate fight, getting away had indeed been possible.
Was anything in this world simple? Expecting to seize benefits without taking any risks—on what basis? On this point, Shao Shuyi saw things with thorough clarity and ease.
"Brother Shao, you... you are truly amazing. Last night and today, I was scared to death," Yu Yuan said, stepping forward with genuine admiration in his eyes.
Basking in the adoration of his young follower, Shao Shuyi felt a quiet thrill of satisfaction. He chuckled and said, "We're brothers; we share fortune and misfortune alike. Yu She, we've been through life and death together now. What need is there for such talk? The celadon shop still needs someone to keep the rough daybook. If you're willing, just come along. I reckon you'll get several dou of grain and ten-odd guan of paper money a month, with room and board included."
Yu Yuan hesitated. "I'll go back and ask my elder brother."
"Useless creature," Wang Huadu scolded playfully. Then he turned to Shao Shuyi. "Brother Shao, I won't be going to the celadon shop. Even though Third Young Master Zheng told you to recruit people, that might just have been polite talk. Squeezing in one person might pass, but two or three would be pushing it. Give the opening to Cheng Ji."
Shao Shuyi was taken aback. He caught hold of Wang Huadu and whispered, "Fool! There's no telling how long I'll last with the Zheng family. Come here first. Whatever happens, we can deal with it later."
"Xiaohu, if I take a post in a trading shop, moving around won't be convenient. If I stay outside, you just need to make sure I don't starve, and it'll be easier for me to run errands and keep contacts open," Wang Huadu whispered back. "Besides, Cheng Ji is far more useful to you. When fighting people for your life, an archer on high ground holds too great an advantage. You must keep him close."
Shao Shuyi pondered in silence for a moment, then nodded. "All right!"
Wang Huadu grinned, turned toward Cheng Ji, and said, "Officer Cheng, why not take a post at the celadon shop? Filling Zhang Neng's vacancy pays quite a bit of cash."
Cheng Ji was somewhat tempted, but in the end he shook his head. "I belong to a military household. How could I abandon my post without authorization?"
"Indecisive as an old woman!" Wang Huadu grumbled in dissatisfaction. "Then recommend someone willing to 'abandon their post.' Brother Shao trusts your word."
Cheng Ji was left speechless at first, then broke into a wry smile.
Just when both Shao Shuyi and Wang Huadu assumed he would refuse, Cheng Ji spoke up somewhat sheepishly, "On my mother's side, I have a cousin who has practiced martial arts since childhood. His family originally served as personal guards under Chiliarch Liang of Ganpu, and they settled there. There are three brothers in the family, and not all of them can serve in the army, so..."
Shao Shuyi understood at once. Cheng Ji was trying to find work for an unemployed cousin. That was entirely natural. Wasn't every circle formed this way, with one person introducing another until they gradually coalesced?
"Have him come," Shao Shuyi said. "What is the background of Chiliarch Liang of Ganpu?"
Cheng Ji offered a brief explanation.
The Liang clan hailed from Yuancheng in Daming. Starting from the father-and-son pair Liang Qian and Liang Bian, they had been a local lineage of generals in Daming—a place that, ever since the mid-Tang Weibo Circuit, had been a veritable breeding ground for warriors.
Liang Bian's younger brother, Liang Zhen, had been appointed a chiliarch of the New Army. He had marched south in the campaign against the Song, racking up battle merits time and again. During the major reorganization after the fall of the Song, his unit was incorporated into the Garrison Jiaxing-Pizhou Central Myriad Household Office, becoming a subordinate Guards Battalion.
Through three generations—Liang Zhen, Liang Shaozu, and Liang Cheng—the post of chiliarch had been inherited down to the present day.
"Three generations enjoying the post of chiliarch? Those are some long-lasting good days," Wang Huadu remarked bitterly from the side.
"A chiliarch may have good days, but a military household might not," Shao Shuyi said with a chuckle. "It's settled, then."
Cheng Ji breathed a sigh of relief.
Having dealt with Shao Shuyi for some time, he knew that a position in the celadon shop was a lucrative post with ample food and money, far better than being an ordinary soldier.
Shao Shuyi was merely an accountant on paper, but Third Young Master Zheng had temporarily granted him considerable authority. Taking advantage of this moment to bring his cousin in meant that even if Shao Shuyi fell from power later on, his cousin wouldn't necessarily be packed off and dismissed.
After finishing their discussion, Shao Shuyi walked several dozen paces over to Li Zhuang, who was bent low planing wood shavings. He bowed deeply and said, "Brother Li, I have been deeply indebted to your care over these past few months. I will surely repay you in the days to come."
Li Zhuang straightened up, wiped the sweat from his forehead, and said, "You earned it all yourself. I really didn't help much."
"You cannot say that. Regardless, I will remember this kindness. If you ever face difficulties in the future, just say the word," Shao Shuyi said solemnly. After speaking, he bowed once more. "I take my leave then."
Li Zhuang returned the bow, looking at Shao Shuyi with a measure of gratification.
***
On the twelfth day of the seventh month, Shao Shuyi and Wang Huadu arrived at the celadon shop, one behind the other.
Zheng Fan had already arrived the previous evening. Hearing the report, he walked out of the room unhurriedly and said, "So you still remembered to come."
Smiling placatingly, Shao Shuyi stepped forward and offered a bow.
"The loose ends have all been cleared away. The authorities won't ask any questions." Zheng Fan waved a hand dismissively. "Did you clean things up at your place?"
"Everything's taken care of," Shao Shuyi replied.
By "taken care of," he meant digging a pit to bury the corpses and scouring away the bloodstains. The authorities might turn a blind eye, but if one couldn't even be bothered with the outward formality of getting rid of the bodies and erasing the traces, that would be pushing one's luck far too far.
"Good, you know what's at stake." Zheng Fan nodded. "I will be overseeing things here for several months. Lose no time in auditing the celadon and cash, and compile a new ledger. Going forward, that will be the official record. While the inventory is being taken, the shop will remain closed. If you need anyone's help, just give the order. If there aren't enough hands, go hire some yourself. Just get it done as quickly as possible."
"Understood," Shao Shuyi said.
"Go get to work. I'm going back to sleep for a bit." Zheng Fan yawned and muttered, "I spent the entire night wiping your ass. Worn to the bone."
"Many thanks," Shao Shuyi said with a bow.
Zheng Fan turned a deaf ear and went straight back to sleep.
Only after his figure had completely vanished did Shao Shuyi turn around and point to Cao Tong, who stood by waiting for orders. "Shitou, gather everyone. Storerooms Jia, Yi, and Bing—I want to inspect them all anew."
"Y-Yes, sir," Cao Tong answered in a startle, complying hastily.
"Hold on—" Shao Shuyi grabbed Cao Tong just as he was about to leave, smiling. "Where is Wu Youcai, the warehouse keeper?"
"He didn't come in yesterday," Cao Tong replied with a woebegone face. "Last night, the elder Officer Zheng went to his home and had men bind him up and send him to Salt and Iron Creek."
"Has anyone in the shop been talking about me?" Shao Shuyi asked with an easy smile.
Cao Tong's face went white.
"Go on, speak up. It's fine. I have always been open-minded," Shao Shuyi said.
His tone was as calm as still water, as if the person who had carried a severed head, blown Zhang Neng away with a gun, and shoved the barrel into the shopkeeper's mouth yesterday to terrorize him had been someone else entirely.
Cao Tong was genuinely terrified, but he did not dare remain silent. He could only stammer, "Everyone... everyone says the accountant is... truly capable. With the accountant here from now on, we... we won't have to fear anything."
At the side, Wang Huadu laughed until tears nearly welled in his eyes.
Shao Shuyi could not help smiling either.
Everything had its advantages and disadvantages. His wild outburst yesterday had, if anything, established his authority. In the short term, the people in the celadon shop would probably not dare oppose him openly while disobeying in secret.
He just didn't know if anyone remained die-hard loyalists to Wang Sheng, Zhang Neng, or Wu Youcai. That remained a hidden danger.
Thinking of this, Shao Shuyi felt a sudden jolt. So that was what Zheng Guozhen had meant by telling him to recruit his own men!
I still lack worldly experience—or at least, experience in living in an ancient society, Shao Shuyi thought to himself with a sigh.
Collecting his thoughts, he released Cao Tong and sent him off to notify everyone.
Once power was in one's hands, one had to exercise it properly. That was only natural.
Chapter 32