Chapter 42: Ling's Cousin, the Inspector

The boat set off once more, making a stop at Hanzhuang for the night, and arrived at Taizhuang by the dusk of the third day.

Liang Jiajun stood on the dock, watching the scarred man and his two companions leave with their chests, and murmured to Gu Zhengchen beside him, "They've gone. Throughout the entire journey, no robbery or theft occurred, so it seems we worried for nothing. If you are still uneasy, we can change boats here. Yet, if we truly were targeted by mounted bandits, changing vessels would be of no use."

Gu Zhengchen gazed intently at the departing trio, a look of perplexity in his eyes: Did the wolves venture out just to retreat without catching any prey?

"Let it be, then. Perhaps we misjudged them," Gu Zhengchen replied softly.

"Come, let's go ashore and stretch our legs. Sitting on a boat these past few days has been truly exhausting," Liang Jiajun said, making a gesture of invitation.

Gu Zhengchen glanced back at Sun Shiba, exchanged a subtle look with him, and then followed Liang Jiajun onto the shore.

Though not exactly flourishing, Taizhuang was quite bustling. Merchants traveling from the south and north paused here to rest and lodge, and many traders accumulated goods at this hub to facilitate commerce across the north and south.

Upon closer inspection, the trade mainly revolved around medicinal herbs, silk, and grain. Neither Gu Zhengchen nor Liang Jiajun had any need for such items, but an antique shop caught Gu Zhengchen's attention and made him linger for a long time.

As for these trinkets, regardless of whether they were counterfeits or not, bringing them back to posterity would make them genuine...

Pity that there was no way back.

Returning to the boat, Liang Jiajun went back to his cabin to rest, while Sun Shiba sought out Gu Zhengchen. "Those three men, carrying their chests, have taken lodging at an inn."

"An inn?" Gu Zhengchen asked, somewhat surprised. "Only the three of them?"

Sun Shiba nodded casually. "Only the three of them, and one of them was holding the chest. Perhaps these fellows used to be mounted bandits who have now turned into law-abiding citizens."

Gu Zhengchen frowned slightly and asked in a low voice, "Is that truly what you think?"

At that very moment, the boat gave a violent shudder.

Then, a loud shout rang out, "Inspection Office conducting a search, no one is to move rashly!"

Gu Zhengchen turned his head to see a fierce-looking soldier striding in, clad in armor, with his hand resting on the hilt of his waist saber. Behind him followed two soldiers holding long spears and carrying bows on their backs.

Seeing this, Boatman Wang hurried forward to greet them. "Inspector Ling, sir, what brings you here in person today?"

Inspector Ling Yan approached Boatman Wang, weighed something in his hand, a smile touching his face. He shook his hand and said with a stern expression, "Boatman Wang, inspecting passing travelers and arresting thieves is the duty of the Inspection Office. I am not making things difficult for you, but a month ago, salt smugglers disturbed the peace around Yangzhou, and the prefectural and county offices issued strict orders to search thoroughly to prevent thieves from boarding boats and harming the people."

"This..." Boatman Wang hesitated, finding the situation difficult.

Ling Yan lowered his voice. "We don't care how much contraband you're carrying privately, but the luggage of commercial travelers still needs to be inspected. If any trouble arises due to a lax inspection on my part, I won't be able to bear the responsibility."

"Very well, since it is your duty, then search away," Boatman Wang agreed with a forced smile.

Ling Yan nodded slightly and walked toward a family of three. "Where is your luggage?"

The man anxiously produced the bundle from his shoulder. A soldier opened it to inspect it, finding only some clothes, steamed corn buns, and two dozen copper coins. The soldier casually took half of the coins, stood up, and said, "Nothing wrong here."

"Military lord, this is our family's life-saving money..." the man pleaded.

The soldier lowered his gaze coldly. "Say one more word, and I won't leave you a single coin."

The man slumped down in despair.

"Monk, where is your luggage?"

The monk raised his head to look at the soldier and continued turning his prayer beads. "The myriad people provide me with food and clothing; why would I need luggage when traveling? With just these prayer beads, an alms bowl, and a staff, I can walk north and south, east and west."

Feeling slighted, the soldier grew angry. "You bald donkey..."

"Enough, do not be disrespectful to a monk!" Ling Yan intervened.

Witnessing this scene, Gu Zhengchen narrowed his eyes slightly.

Old Zhu had once become a monk and taken tonsure at Huangjue Temple; whether he had shaved his head completely aside, the fact that Huangjue Temple had given him food to eat was an undeniable truth.

In the first year of Hongwu, Old Zhu established the Benevolent Guidance Institute, appointing the monk Huitan to manage Buddhist affairs.

Over the six years since the founding of the dynasty, Old Zhu had largely inherited the Yuan Dynasty's policies toward Buddhism, not only establishing grand Dharma assemblies and decreeing eminent Buddhist monks to expound the Dharma, but also widely building temples and recruiting monks.

Valuing Buddhism was a foundational policy during these early years of the dynasty. However, the shift in this policy would not come until the fourteenth year of Hongwu.

Presently, monks held high status, and even these corrupt lower-level inspection officials dared not offend them lightly.

In Gu Zhengchen's view, Old Zhu's attitude toward Buddhism was a textbook example of destroying the bridge after crossing the river.

Valuing Buddhism now was a means of using it to pacify the populace. If everyone believed that they were meant to suffer in this life and attain ultimate bliss after death, who would dare oppose the imperial court's rule? Once the court stabilized the situation, Old Zhu would no longer need Shakyamuni to deliver the people of the Great Ming.

Old Zhu's Buddhist stance was essentially: My subjects, I shall deliver them myself.

Ling Yan looked toward Gu Zhengchen and walked over. "Where is your luggage?"

Gu Zhengchen raised a hand to stop Gu Cheng from speaking and pointed toward the cabin. "Inside."

"Search!"

At Ling Yan's command, the door was opened.

Liang Jiajun frowned at the intruders, while Gu Zhengchen looked up at the ceiling.

"Inspector, we found something!"

A soldier emerged holding a kitchen cleaver.

Ling Yan took the cleaver and looked at Gu Zhengchen and Liang Jiajun. "What is the meaning of this?"

Gu Zhengchen calmly replied, "For chopping vegetables."

"T-there is another one."

The soldier made another discovery.

Ling Yan's face darkened. "And how do you explain this one?"

Gu Zhengchen looked at Liang Jiajun, but Liang Jiajun remained silent with a shake of his head, leaving Gu Zhengchen to explain: "For crushing garlic. As you should know, some kitchen cleavers can slice vegetables but cannot crush garlic..."

"You!" Ling Yan grew indignant.

"Inspector, there are two more here!"

Ling Yan stared at the four cleavers before him, glaring viciously at Gu Zhengchen. "I see you carry lethal weapons with the intent to commit robbery! Come, seize them—"

Gu Zhengchen produced an official document from the Ministry of Personnel. "Inspector, is it? When we travel away from home, buying a few kitchen cleavers as local specialties doesn't violate the Great Ming Code, does it?"

"An, an official?"

Ling Yan's expression shifted slightly, and he quickly said, "It violates nothing."

Regardless of what official the man was, anyone requiring a document from the Ministry of Personnel was certainly of a higher rank than a ninth-class inspector. These people were likely heading to the capital on official business. If they were to write a memoir and submit it to the Ministry of Personnel, his career would be finished. Not only that, but it might also implicate his cousin, Ling Shuo.

Ling Shuo had written to him several times, instructing him strictly not to cause trouble, as the atmosphere within the imperial court was currently very peculiar...

"My lords, we were merely performing our routine duties. Ha-ha, since everything is in order, we shall not disturb you any longer."

Ling Yan cupped his fists and turned to leave.

Gu Zhengchen stepped forward to follow. "Inspector Ling, let me see you out."

Ling Yan felt an urge to jump into the river; could it be that he had been targeted? What was he to do now?

"I must ask the Inspector to step aside with me for a word." Gu Zhengchen smiled.

Ling Yan grit his teeth in secret. This fellow was clearly looking for a bribe—what a detestable corrupt official!

Gu Zhengchen and Ling Yan walked to a secluded spot by the river. Gazing at the lamplight reflected on the boats, Gu Zhengchen spoke, "Would Inspector Ling like to make a contribution and earn the imperial court's admiration?"