Lu Song had no reason to refuse such a proposition. Even if he felt a bit petulant personally, just as he had admitted before, in a fortified manor this vast with so many Celestial Master followers, they had to survive. They needed food, clothing, communal child-rearing, and funds to hold the grand assemblies of boundless union—they even needed dye for their crimson headcloths. Which of those didn't cost money? Which didn't demand toil?
This was especially true this winter. A flood of refugees had poured into Jingkou, offering five pecks of rice or a bolt of cloth to join the sect. By the rules, they naturally could not be turned away. But it was winter, after all; though people had arrived, the season prevented them from being swiftly mobilized into large-scale production. Instead, they had to wait in line to be paired as men and women for the sacred rituals. With so many idling about, the strain on the manor's resources only deepened. Saying they had to count individual grains of rice into the cooking pot was of course an exaggeration, but the sentiment was spot on.
That burden now rested squarely on Preceptor Lu's shoulders. He naturally welcomed the chance to trade surplus miscellaneous goods for essential grain and cloth.
Moreover, if they could tap into their excess manpower and production capacity to turn out goods efficiently during the winter, not only he, but the manor's middle and upper echelons would be all the happier. After all, their labor costs were virtually zero.
As for why they didn't sell the goods themselves?
Aside from the difficulty of finding buyers—especially in the high-end market—there was another curious truth: the defining hallmark, and indeed the very foundation, of a fortified manor was self-sufficiency. Under ordinary circumstances, they did not engage in external trade; it was merely that this winter had brought unforeseen trouble.
Thus, the two Lius had brought precisely what they urgently needed.
Not to mention, this involved the Xie clan of Chen Commandery. Currently holding both military authority and civil appointments, they were an ascendant top-tier second-rank clan. Once Grand Commander Chu Pou passed away, they were poised to climb even higher with the backing of Empress Dowager Chu.
If the manor could establish a lasting supply relationship with the Xie estate, it would be an extraordinary opportunity. Leave aside Lu Song, who harbored his own ambitions; even if Master Du were here, he would likely agree.
Sure enough, though Revenue Officer Lu was somewhat surprised and inexplicably irritated, before departing for the commandery seat, he issued clear orders directing the Celestial Master Taoists within the manor to cooperate with the two Lius.
He had never doubted the truth of the matter... In Preceptor Lu's eyes, these two youths hadn't even retreated to their comfortable nest in Jiangsheng, nor were they willing to seek shelter with him. Instead, they stubbornly clung to a refugee camp where women and children made up a massive proportion just to fish for a noble reputation. They clearly belonged to that rare breed of extraordinary people—and it seemed only fitting that extraordinary people could pull off extraordinary feats. Moreover, as a neighbor, he fancied he understood their circumstances through and through. At this moment, driven to their wits' end, the Xie clan of Wuyi Lane might truly be their only possible gamble.
Didn't all the pieces fit?
Setting aside Revenue Officer Lu heading off to serve at the commandery office—once he departed, and after learning that Preceptor Xu had gone to Kuaiji and Lu Song was the sole master here, Liu Cheng immediately took advantage of the authorization and began turning the manor upside down.
First, they wouldn't inspect a thing—first, they would eat!
Indeed, they could finally fill their bellies to the brim. The seven or eight able-bodied men who accompanied them squatted down and gulped large bowls of porridge. One bowl wasn't enough, so they had another, averaging five and a half bowls a man. Meanwhile, Liu Cheng and Liu Jili simply took their places in the hall—not encroaching on the host's primary seat, but sitting right where they had sat before—and had the Taoists serve higher-grade millet rice and salted vegetables, eating solid food... They even asked for a double portion of salted vegetables, arrayed together on the table, picking from both sides in turns.
Having finally eaten their fill, with broad daylight breaking, they commenced their thorough inspection.
The first thing to inspect was the charcoal kiln. In any event, they had to see the kiln; it was their initial plan and the most fundamental trade.
There were indeed charcoal kilns, though rarely used, and the storehouse still held seven or eight hundred jin of charcoal. The reason was exceedingly simple, stemming right back to the fortified manor's defining feature: self-sufficiency.
After all, out in the countryside, firewood served most everyday needs. No outsiders visited their private ground specifically to buy charcoal, so only the manor's few smelting operations and several preceptors during the winter required it. Thus, they fired a kiln only once in a while, burning another batch only when the previous one was nearly exhausted.
The charcoal sitting in the storehouse was there only thanks to the onset of winter.
This would never do. Liu Cheng noted this down first and demanded that they fire a batch of prime charcoal right away. The Celestial Master Taoists did not refuse; after all, charcoal kept well, so there was no fear of waste. Liu Jili seized the opening to designate two companions from their group to follow along and learn the craft.
Next, they went to inspect the textiles.
One should not assume that just because the Xie estate had an almost immeasurable supply of basic cloth, they wouldn't purchase textiles. In fact, textiles depended on grade. Plain cloth granted from official storehouses was only fit for canopies and draperies, whereas fine textiles carried immense added value. For a high-end market like the Xie estate, securing textiles of artistic value was by far the most lucrative trade.
Furthermore, the value of such goods was universally recognized, with steady demand and wide profit margins—far superior to peachwood firewood.
Just yesterday, for example, Liu Cheng had seen with his own eyes Steward Qian purchasing patterned silk in the market and tucking a few bolts into his own household goods on the side.
A look through the stores revealed plenty of fine treasures, largely because the Celestial Masters placed immense importance on the craft of crimson dyeing... Consequently, there was an abundance of crimson—that is, brilliant scarlet—gauze, silk, and damask. Liu Cheng even spotted a crane-feather cloak dyed crimson, and following that lead, found a crane-feather fan, a horsetail whisk, and a deer-tail chowry all dyed the same crimson.
For a moment, he didn't know whether to feel delighted or appalled.
In any case, they recorded everything on paper.
Yes, Liu Cheng finally had paper and a brush to write with, rather than scribbling with charcoal ash on small wooden boards. Yet this time, he feigned inadequacy, demurring that he was young, had not studied diligently, and had poor handwriting, leaving Liu Jili to keep the records.
And so, leading several able-bodied men, the two Lius inspected from morning till noon, and from noon till afternoon: from the charcoal kilns to the blacksmith smithy, from the weaving rooms to the dyeing vats, even checking the stored old grain, tasting the brewed wine, examining the carpentry work, and counting the cattle and sheep in the pens... If Lu Song hadn't returned early, they might well have gone snooping for the store of military equipment.
Even after Lu Song returned, it didn't stop the two from enjoying another hearty meal with their men at the manor, before delivering a solemn market analysis to Preceptor Lu in the hall.
Believe it or not, Liu Cheng actually laid out several cogent insights.
According to the youth's analysis, the Xie estate's primary market demand was sharply polarized. They had their own estates, but being a late-rising aristocratic clan, their holdings were generally far off in Kuaiji. This forced them to acquire perishables with high seasonal fluctuations like charcoal and seasonal fresh delicacies locally, as well as delicate goods like prime livestock that couldn't endure long journeys. On the other hand, for high-ranking aristocrats with vast basic wealth, they welcomed any luxury goods possessing cultural and artistic value.
Guided by this logic, and taking into account the Celestial Masters' obvious excess capacity and chaotic inventory, Liu Jili actually produced a comprehensive procurement list.
It included not only the primary goods selected today—such as charcoal, wine, silk, crimson damask, and furs—but also demanded that Lu Song, in his capacity as a preceptor, package those rather unconventional crane-feather cloaks, feather fans, whisks, chowries, and top-tier goods with talismanic consecrations.
In addition, the Celestial Master manor was asked to select skilled craftsmen to attempt producing a batch of lacquerware, pottery, ironware, and even copper and silverware bearing religious motifs. They also needed the Celestial Masters to organize a hunting, fishing, and foraging team to secure winter seasonal delicacies, including pine nuts, large fish, and wild game.
Liu Jili even proposed that while the refugee camp was impoverished, they still had the capacity to forage, hunt, fish, and gather firewood; the Celestial Masters should provide some tool subsidies so they could work together. After all, ordinary minnows, tiny shrimp, and shriveled pine nuts couldn't be sold, but they could keep the women and children alive through the winter.
Finally, Liu Cheng openly stated that as the trailblazers and channel masters of the Xie estate market, and considering the circumstances of the refugee camp, they required a twenty-percent cut, just like the Xie estate's key head bondservants.
It was plain to see that these two had the Celestial Masters right where they wanted them.
However, after listening carefully, Lu Song didn't scowl this time. He granted all of it, merely cautioning the two Lius with a solemn expression: "Gentlemen, taking a cut alongside the Xie household's servants is nothing extraordinary. As long as this venture succeeds, not only will our Celestial Masters honor our word, we will also present gifts in the future. Even if it falls short—merely lasting a single winter without forging deep ties with the Xie clan—so long as the goods are sold through proper channels and ease our circumstances this winter, we won't complain. My only fear is that you achieve nothing and court disaster for no reason. If that time comes, our Celestial Masters will not casually shield anyone!"
Hearing this, the two Lius exchanged glances.
Last night by the haystack, they had discussed this very issue. After all, this was an unorthodox scheme, and Steward Qian wasn't clean either. If it were exposed, trouble was bound to follow. When that happened, the Xie estate might pretend not to know to protect their clan's prestige, but the Celestial Masters might take their lives for taking too steep a cut.
And in the end, Lu Song merely said they wouldn't shield anyone?
Then they could truly go all out with this business.
"Regardless, Brother Song, please bestow the fertility talisman first. We must take it over tomorrow," Liu Cheng was the first to recover. "This was requested by the household of the steward in charge of inner-residence expenditures... Essential servants like him are the ones we cannot afford to offend, and keeping him satisfied is key to avoiding trouble."
Lu Song pondered a moment, at a loss for words. He ordered brush and paper brought on the spot, but cautioned: "A talisman is just a colloquial term. In truth, one enters the heavenly register through a register, using that registration as credentials before drawing a talisman. And talismans primarily expel demons and protect life; there has never been a talisman for seeking offspring... That steward must have fallen victim to rumors, mistaking a talisman for expelling demons and curing illnesses in pregnant women for one that grants children. How about I draw you an illness-curing, demon-expelling talisman?"
"Since you're already an ordained preceptor inscribed on the heavenly register, why bind your talisman-drawing strictly to curing disease and exorcising demons?" Liu Cheng didn't care about his professional ethics and urged directly. "Even if there wasn't one for seeking children before, just add one. As long as heaven recognizes your status, it will naturally dispatch the corresponding deities to assist you... It's like becoming a commandery governor. In the past, governors didn't manage refugees; now that you do, would anyone claim it isn't within a governor's authority? In my opinion, as long as you're a celestial official on the heavenly register, you can draw any talisman—not just for children, but for promotions, wealth, and marriage."
At these words, even Liu Jili grew a little anxious. These were immortal talismans; could one really treat them like this?
Lu Song, however, stared at the youth for a long while. Then, he actually bowed his head and drew a talisman, having it handed over to the boy before leaving the hall to rest... Holding the talisman, the two Lius inspected it for quite some time without making sense of it, unable to tell whether it was an ordinary old talisman for exorcism and curing disease or an innovation Preceptor Lu had made after hearing Liu Cheng's advice.
Still, it didn't matter. Steward Qian and his wife wouldn't know the difference either.
That night, the two did not stay at the Celestial Master manor. Instead, they took two chi of crimson damask as a sample and led their men back to the camp by torchlight, leaving only two men behind at the charcoal kiln to learn the craft... One must not forget that up to this point, the refugee camp had yet to see any major revenue, and morale remained volatile. If the two stayed away enjoying comfort, trouble might break out in the camp.
Nothing eventful occurred that night. The next morning, the two Lius arose, checked the list once more, and confirmed everything was in order. Normally they should have rested, as their appointment with Steward Qian was set for the afternoon, but Liu Cheng insisted on setting out early.
At first, Liu Jili thought his old habit had flared up again, wanting to visit Jiankang to broaden his horizons—after all, he hadn't yet seen the Vermilion Bird Bridge or the Stone Citadel. To his surprise, they traveled all the way to Jiangsheng and found the idle Liu Huzi.
One couldn't strictly say Brother Hu was idling; he was engaged in proper business. In fact, when Liu Cheng and Liu Jili arrived at Liu Ren Gong's new residence, the fellow was practicing archery with several clan companions at the nearby garrison post of Garrison Commander Gao. Hearing that Liu Cheng had come looking for him, he tossed aside his bow and arrows and came out.
Meeting without formality, they borrowed a folding stool and a bench nearby and sat down to talk.
"Brother Hu," Liu Cheng clearly had a purpose and asked directly, "have you enlisted under Uncle Gao?"
Liu Huzi shook his head: "You were there that day, Cheng; how could you forget? All the squad leaders of hundred-man units here have already been filled by Gao clansmen. Even if I joined, at best I'd be a squad leader of a hundred men, and a relative would have to vacate their post for me..."
"Isn't that right?" Camel Jili, currently high-spirited, chimed in with a wry smile. "With our Pengcheng Liu clan's pedigree and your grandfather's record, even if you become a 'stalwart soldier', you'd have to start at least as a company commander like Garrison Commander Gao. Otherwise, Liu A'gan would sneer at you."
"That's the truth," Liu Huzi replied frankly. "I was unwilling before, let alone now. Since there's truly no opportunity, I'd rather bum around like this... But Liu A'gan is the same, and even unluckier than us. That fellow spent so much money last time, had his future all arranged, only for it to vanish into thin air. Now he gallops around Jingkou all day with a grim face hunting down bandits. He has no right to laugh at me."
Liu Jili finally couldn't help laughing out loud.
Liu Cheng's attention, as usual, drifted off track: "Are there many bandits now? Where do they come from? Are there fierce ones? Who told Liu A'gan to fight them, or does he just want to?"
"Why do you ask that, Cheng? Where do they come from—don't you know?" Liu Huzi said, somewhat speechless. "The bandits we fought that day—didn't you provoke them out of nowhere? It's all the same! As for whether there are many: with forty to fifty thousand refugees lacking food and clothing in winter, there are bound to be two or three thousand ruffians scattered around Jingkou. But it's hard to call them all bandits... Many are just petty thieves."
"Cheng wants to know how the situation is developing, whether bandits are increasing rapidly, and whether it will affect the camp," Liu Jili explained on his behalf. "After all, each day grows colder, and tomorrow is the official first day of winter."
"Rest assured," Liu Huzi grew slightly solemn. "Even if bandits multiply and turn vicious, there's nothing to fear. When Father chose this spot to settle, wasn't it to be near the garrison post and receive Uncle Gao's protection? If bandits really go after you, you don't even need Uncle Gao. Just send word to me, and I'll lead men to deal with them... You just asked who ordered Liu A'gan to fight bandits; no one needs to order him. To protect the local peace, he naturally has to fight them. It's the same either way."
Liu Jili nodded and turned to Liu Cheng: "Cheng, Hu is right. This is within Langya Commandery after all, closer to Jiankang. No need to fret excessively about bandits."
"My only fear is that if things worsen, bandits like Zu Shizhi will appear," Liu Cheng said seriously. "Or if you become a bandit, Hu, how are we supposed to fend you off?"
Liu Huzi burst into laughter: "Earlier you compared yourself to Zu Shizhi, and now you compare me to him?"
After laughing, Liu Huzi turned solemn again: "Rest easy, Cheng. I can't guarantee I won't ever become a bandit, but if I do, I will certainly plunder elsewhere... And even if I become a bandit, I will protect you!"
"When that time comes, we might end up joining you as bandits," seeing him turn serious, Liu Cheng smiled instead. "Enough chatter. I came with serious business... Has that tiger skin been tanned? Have you sold it?"
Before Liu Huzi could answer, Liu Jili froze, turning to stare at his partner. In that instant, he realized the purpose of this trip, and complicated feelings welled up inside him. He naturally acknowledged Liu Cheng's loyalty and admired his gratitude, but he also felt that it was Liu Huzi's family who had abandoned the camp first. Over the past few days, the two of them had endured immense hardship, nearly reaching their wit's end before finally seeing a glimmer of hope. Naturally, they ought to enjoy the fruits of their labor alone. Yet just as things showed a bit of promise, Liu Cheng was already turning back to help Liu Huzi. A pang of bitterness inevitably pinched his heart.
Was it really because they had known each other longer? Or had the hemp sandals on his feet truly done the trick?
Liu Huzi had no idea what complex thoughts ran through Camel Jili's mind. Hearing the question, he grew even more serious: "The tiger skin was finished these past few days. Cheng, has it really gotten that bad on your side? Just say the word. If you're truly at the end of your rope, I'll steal the tiger skin out so my two elder brothers don't see, take it to Jingkou or Jiankang to sell, and trade it for some rice for you. But remember what Father said: there are a thousand people there. No matter how capable you are, throwing a few scraps into that pit won't make a splash... Better to come here soon; I'll teach you archery and horsemanship."
Liu Cheng nodded, but didn't speak directly, glancing at Liu Jili instead.
Liu Jili had no choice but to brace himself and recount their struggles of the past few days, concluding: "Cheng means that if you haven't sold the tiger skin, hold off... Once we earn some funds at Wuyi Lane and become familiar faces, we can try to make contact with the Xie clan directly. Then, before the new year, we can simply present the tiger skin to the head of the Xie family. We have a compelling story to tell them, and it won't be any different from offering it to the Grand Commander. We might be able to secure you a future as a stalwart soldier in the Western Headquarters."
Liu Huzi grew delighted halfway through the explanation. When it ended, he asked directly: "If so, there's no reason to seek a future for just one person. Are you going to the Western Headquarters too, Cheng?"
"I haven't thought about the Western Headquarters," Liu Cheng hesitated, taking the opportunity to tweak and refine his persona. "Though I keep the Northern Expedition in mind at all times, after this ordeal I've realized that without a foundation behind me to recruit soldiers I can trust, and without a patron to shield me from court politics, I fear I'd be sold out before even laying eyes on the Huai River, let alone establishing a foothold in the north... Besides, Grand Commander Chu's episode has truly filled me with unease regarding this Northern Expedition. I don't quite believe they can succeed."
"That's true," Liu Jili nodded repeatedly. "So one must become a high official before launching a Northern Expedition..."
"You must think it through as well, Hu," Liu Cheng advised. "The Xie clan now controls the Western Headquarters. If all goes smoothly, joining the army there for a northern campaign is certainly a path. But you're too young, and your clan's roots are in Jingkou. Better to take it slow, find a way to stay in Jingkou like Uncle Gao, which both looks after the clan and trains a troop of men. Once you have standing, going to the Western Headquarters is just a matter of approaching the Xie clan again."
Liu Huzi nodded repeatedly, unexpectedly raising no objections.
Liu Cheng could only marvel that even someone like Liu Huzi, after enduring turmoil, setbacks, and hitting rock bottom, could show some maturity and listen to reason.
Indeed, once things took a turn for the better, Liu Cheng had almost immediately pulled Liu Huzi back into his inner circle. Now seeing that time was about ripe, he simply called him along, and together they headed for Jiankang.
This time, familiar with the route, the three Lius arrived at Changganli and met Steward Qian and his wife, who were waiting there.
To be frank, Liu Cheng had worried earlier: if Steward Qian were ruthless enough to abandon this house and move his wife to a rented room below the commandery seat across from Wuyi Lane, shaking them off entirely, they really would have had no recourse.
Fortunately, that hadn't happened. However, when the three arrived, the aging husband and young wife looked somewhat sullen, as if they had just quarreled.
Of course, once Liu Cheng presented the fertility talisman—supposedly drawn collaboratively by Preceptor Xu and Preceptor Lu—both husband and wife visibly cheered up. At that point, when Liu Cheng handed over the list, Steward Qian finally looked upon these three impoverished young nobles with newfound respect.
Judging solely by their wretched state during the tiger hunt a month ago, who could have imagined they possessed such capability—commanding the manpower and wealth of the Celestial Masters so effortlessly?
Did aristocratic status truly open doors everywhere?
With this thought, Steward Qian's attitude turned noticeably friendlier. He engaged in detailed discussions with the youth who was clearly in charge among the three. Both sides agreed on the procedure: in three days, they would deliver one shoulder-load of peachwood firewood and five hundred jin of charcoal, paid at market price. Furthermore, the crimson damask was indeed dyed exquisitely, but such expensive goods required the master's approval. Therefore, a full bolt had to be brought over first for the ladies and young mistresses of the inner residence to inspect. If approved, it would be kept on the spot, and subsequent orders would follow, as one bolt would never suffice among all the ladies. Finally, if the crimson damask sale went through, the other items on the list would follow suit, with samples brought over one by one for him to inspect first.
Liu Cheng readily agreed.
Two days passed quickly. Early in the morning, Liu Cheng and Liu Jili arrived at the Celestial Master manor with five or six honest, sturdy companions. Since the new kiln of charcoal was still burning, they took five hundred jin of good charcoal from inventory, along with their handpicked peachwood firewood and a bolt of crimson damask. They also had the Celestial Masters add fifty jin of charcoal and four chi of damask before setting off with a borrowed donkey cart.
Evidently, the Celestial Masters weren't entirely at ease either, specially dispatching four or five burly men and a Taoist in long robes to accompany them.
When they reached Jiangsheng, Liu Huzi also joined with several clan brothers, escorting the donkey cart together toward Jiankang.
By the time they reached the Three Bridges Fence Gate, the gatekeeper tax clerk's gaze was more bizarre than ever—not that they were unprepared to levy taxes, but he simply could not fathom why a mere half-cart of charcoal, a load of firewood, and a bolt of red damask... even if the damask was of prime quality, warranted an escort of over a dozen burly men, including a Celestial Master priest?
Did the charcoal conceal gold?
In the eyes of Liu Cheng and his companions, the charcoal truly did conceal gold!
As mentioned before, a shoulder-load of mixed firewood was fifty jin, which could trade for about five sheng of rice at market rates... But what about charcoal? Generally, one jin of charcoal required seven to eight jin of mixed wood to burn. So five hundred jin of charcoal was equivalent to three to four thousand jin of wood, roughly three to four shi of rice?
What a joke! If that were the case, who would bother expending so much effort digging kilns and watching over them for seven or eight days while risking failure?
In reality, the market price of five hundred jin of charcoal was six thousand coins—five-zhu coins, not debased Shenlang coins! Calculated against Jiankang's market price of three hundred wen per shi of rice, that amounted to twenty shi of rice! And the Xie estate consumed about eight hundred jin of charcoal a month. By the end of winter and the brisk chill of early spring, that meant nearly a hundred shi of grain.
If this item alone could be entirely taken by the refugee camp, it would suffice to bridge the food gap and see them through the winter—which had once been Liu Cheng's ideal projection.
Of course, in reality, two tenths had to go to Steward Qian, who had mentioned he needed to distribute more than half of his share to others in the inner residence; another tenth had to be paid at the city gate; and five tenths went to the true owner of the charcoal, the Celestial Masters. The refugee camp could only take two tenths, which amounted to roughly twenty shi of grain over the course of the winter.
Yet no one was dissatisfied. Even the Celestial Masters were thrilled, because there was still the bolt of crimson damask!
That bolt of crimson damask sold for two thousand coins, and Steward Qian said that if quality and quantity were maintained, the inner residence would need fifteen more bolts.
Liu Jili and the others marveled at the staggering needs of a top-tier aristocratic household. But Liu Cheng had only one thought: he had actually pulled it off. Those thousand souls might truly survive the winter without worry!
Chapter 30