Chapter 49 Even Crossing the Sea in Vain Makes a Hero

A gentleman named Zhou?

Liang Jiajun was filled with confusion. Shanyang (Huai'an) had produced many famous historical figures, such as Han Xin, one of the Three Heroes of the early Han Dynasty, and Zhang Lei, one of the Four Masters of the Su School. Yet, he had never heard anyone mention a gentleman surnamed Zhou originating from this place.

"What is his full name? Are there any anecdotes, legends, poems, or essays of his passed down through the generations?"

Liang Jiajun caught up with Gu Zhengchen and pressed on with his questions.

Drawing upon his memories from later generations, Gu Zhengchen walked up to a large courtyard and stopped. He looked at the plaque above the door, which bore three inscribed characters: "Inquiring the True Origin." The main gate was tightly shut.

Liang Jiajun pointed toward the gate. "Waiting for the autumn breeze to turn chill, I high-seek the White Emperor to inquire the true origin. Does the owner of this house, much like Du Fu, also visit Mount Hua? Is this what you call the home of the gentleman surnamed Zhou?"

"Inquiring the True Origin?"

Gu Zhengchen smiled.

Centuries ago, a family lived here, seeking the true origin.

Centuries later, a family lived here, and they had found the true origin.

Gazing intently at the characters on the plaque, Gu Zhengchen said softly, "Brother Liang, didn't you ask if he has poems or essays passed down to the world? Gu Cheng, bring the brush and ink."

With that, he walked over to the courtyard wall on the left side of the gate.

Gu Cheng produced the writing brush and inkstone. Just as the ink block was ground smooth, Gu Zhengchen had already lifted the brush, dipped it in ink, and dashed off the characters with sweeping strokes:

After singing the song of the great river, I turn my head east;
With meticulous and profound disciplines, I rescue a troubled world.
Facing the wall for ten years, aiming to break through the wall;
Even if sacrifice at sea fails to be rewarded, one remains a hero.

Looking at the seven-word verse on the wall, Liang Jiajun was immediately struck by an imposing and heroic momentum rushing toward him. It exuded a resolute and unshakable determination—having mastered one's learning, vowing to serve the country, and holding firm even through a myriad of deaths!

Anyone capable of writing such a poem could be no ordinary person!

Liang Jiajun considered himself well-read in ancient texts and thoroughly versed in past and present matters, yet upon careful reflection, he had never laid eyes on this poem before.

Was he simply ill-informed and ignorant?

"Who are you people?"

A clear, melodious voice drifted over.

Gu Zhengchen turned around, his eyes lighting up slightly.

Not far away stood a young maiden holding an old-fashioned red oil-paper umbrella. The red umbrella was tilted slightly against her shoulder, its fine, neat ribs supporting the crimson canopy. The maiden had delicate eyebrows and fine eyes; two strands of glossy hair gently fluttered against her snow-white cheeks, and her star-like eyes flickered slightly, her elegant, petite face radiating an otherworldly grace.

Gu Zhengchen handed the writing brush back to Gu Cheng, stepped forward, and saluted. "I am Gu Zhengchen. Being deeply moved just now, I left some writing here and inadvertently stained your wall—"

"Miss, Miss."

In the distance, a maidservant was hurrying over with quick, tripping steps.

The maiden glanced back at the maidservant, moved with lotus steps, and said to Gu Zhengchen and the others, "Do not linger here. My father is most fond of pristine, flawless white walls. If he sees that you have scribbled on them, he will surely be displeased. You should leave quickly."

With that, she turned and walked away.

Liang Jiajun looked at Gu Zhengchen, who seemed somewhat lost in thought, and coughed. "The person is gone, we should be off as well. If we get caught red-handed, it might stir up trouble."

Gu Zhengchen reined in his thoughts and composed himself. "Let's go. Let's take a look around the prefectural yamen. Gu Cheng, Sun Shibiao, you don't need to stick so closely to us. Just wander around and take a look."

"Very well, Master."

Gu Cheng and Sun Shibiao acknowledged.

Outside the gate of the "Inquiring the True Origin" residence:

A man in his forties stared fixedly at the wall. He had a square face, a broad forehead, and deep-set eyes. He remarked, "This poem is extraordinary. I never expected that Brother Zhang, after years of introspection, harbored such lofty ambitions. I must memorialize the court, recommend Brother Zhang, and allow him to put his ambitions into practice."

Zhang He looked at the characters on the wall with some astonishment, his lean cheeks twitching slightly.

"What? Was this not written by Brother Zhang?"

"Prefect Ren, you and I have not known each other for just a day; you should know that I lost such sharp spirit long ago. *Facing the wall for ten years, aiming to break through the wall; even if sacrifice at sea fails to be rewarded, one remains a hero!* These lines possess a momentum of unyielding determination through a myriad of deaths. Truly a magnificent piece of poetry!"

Zhang He looked earnestly at Ren Guangzu, the Prefect of Huai'an.

Ren Guangzu sighed in admiration, pointing at the characters on the wall. "If it wasn't written by Brother Zhang, then whose could it be?"

Zhang He shook his head slightly, gestured invitingly with his hand, and said, "Prefect Ren, let us go inside the residence to talk. I will send someone to make inquiries."

Ren Guangzu said solemnly, "This person must be found. Such a talented scholar ought to be employed by the imperial court. You have no idea—this year, in order to select and recommend talents, the court has already issued three imperial edicts. The Emperor is eagerly thirsting for wise men, and the likes of us are sitting on pins and needles."

Zhang He repeatedly agreed. "Since someone was able to leave their handwriting here, someone must have seen them. Prefect Ren, please, after you."

Ren Guangzu nodded and followed Zhang He into the courtyard.

Sipping tea and discussing books.

Ren Guangzu seemed somewhat distracted. Knowing that Ren Guangzu had an eager yearning for talent, Zhang He sent servants to make inquiries, but none of them had ever seen the person who left the poem.

In the back courtyard:

Miss Zhang Xiyan instructed the maidservant Xiao He, "Do not speak of the person who left the handwriting to outsiders. If Father finds out, he will certainly blame us..."

Gu Zhengchen returned to the inn feeling rather depressed.

Didn't they say that ancient scholars loved to scribble and paint everywhere, that it was a refined pursuit and a display of scholarly wit? Li Bai, Du Fu, Lu Xiu, Su Shi—which of them hadn't done such things? How come when it was his turn, it was perceived as lacking in public manners...

Delayed by the journey due to his "illness," it was already approaching August.

Liang Jiajun proposed, "Since Zhengchen's health is completely unimpeded now, we should head south as soon as possible and arrive in Jinling before the Mid-Autumn Festival. What do you think?"

"Splendid."

Gu Zhengchen agreed with a smile.

"Go book a boat. We will leave Shanyang tomorrow morning," Liang Jiajun instructed Liang Wujin before saying to Gu Zhengchen, "From Huai'an to Yangzhou, there are quite a few inspection offices, and various military garrisons are stationed there. I imagine there won't be any complications. Within five days, we will be able to arrive in Jinling."

Gu Zhengchen sighed. "This journey hasn't been easy. Having walked a lot today, I'm feeling rather tired. Shall we turn in early?"

Knowing that Gu Zhengchen had just recovered from his illness, Liang Jiajun stood up and said, "In that case, Brother Gu, do get some good rest."

Watching Liang Jiajun leave, Gu Zhengchen looked at Gu Cheng. Gu Cheng closed the door, and Sun Shibiao also stepped forward.

"Master, half a month ago, the Huai'an Prefectural Yamen arrested a salt smuggler named Zhao Sanxiu. It is said he is a minor leader among the smugglers. The prefect has already memorialized Jinling, though judgment has not yet been finalized."

Gu Cheng reported the information he had gathered.

Sun Shibiao nodded and lowered his voice. "From the looks of it, the county yamen, the prefectural yamen, and the Canal Transport Office all have suitable spots. After all, these places are vast, and there are always blind spots that escape supervision."

Gu Zhengchen said gravely, "In this matter, we must not harm anyone. Since we are going to do it, we need to make a big enough noise so that it doesn't just fizzle out without a response!"

"Does Master mean..."

Sun Shibiao swallowed hard.

Gu Zhengchen stood up, his gaze sharp as he looked at Sun Shibiao. "Two locations: the prefectural yamen and the Canal Transport Office! Go. Be extremely cautious, and carry it out according to the method I prescribed. If anyone questions you, remember not to panic or lose your head. Gu Cheng will provide covert backup."

Sun Shibiao took a travel pouch from the chest, looked at the four thick bamboo tubes inside—each about the size of a forearm, containing slow-burning incense sticks—saluted Gu Zhengchen, and said solemnly, "Master, I am off."

Gu Zhengchen nodded.

Gu Cheng opened the door, glanced outside, and seeing no one paying attention, he and Sun Shibiao left together.

Gu Zhengchen stood behind the window, watching Gu Cheng and Sun Shibiao separate and walk away, then looked down at his hands, which were slightly damp with sweat.

In the adjoining room:

Liang Jiajun looked at Liang Wujin. "Gu Cheng and Sun Shibiao have left the inn. It's already dusk; what are they up to?"

Liang Wujin chuckled. "Master, they went to knock on doors. In this city of Shanyang, there are quite a few widows..."

"These two!"

Liang Jiajun secretly shook his head, glanced at Liang Wujin, and warned, "You are not allowed to go!"

"Master, I am an upright man."

"You're grinning obscenely; nothing upright about that..."

"I've been wronged..."

Sun Shibiao planted the bamboo tubes in a secluded, inconspicuous spot against the east wall of the prefectural yamen, lit the slow-burning incense connected to the fuse, left a crooked note full of misused characters nearby, slipped away effortlessly, and then headed to the west wall of the Canal Transport Office. Finding another secluded spot, he quickly planted the device and retreated to safety.

To ensure absolute safety, Sun Shibiao followed Gu Zhengchen's instructions by changing directions several times, making two large detours, and finally entering a restaurant. There, he ate and drank while cautiously observing the surrounding movements.

In the shadows, Gu Cheng also watched anxiously. Seeing that there were no anomalies and no one was pursuing them, he finally felt relieved and went to a teahouse across the street from the restaurant to drink tea. The two men exchanged a knowing smile across the street.

Half an hour later, the two returned to the inn one after another, purposely greeting the innkeeper and bringing back some food and wine for Liang Wujin.

That night was somewhat long.

Gu Zhengchen fell asleep at some point, and when he woke up, Gu Cheng and Sun Shibiao were already urging him from outside the door.

At this time, the sky was not yet fully bright.

They hired a few laborers to carry their luggage to the dock. Gu Zhengchen, Liang Jiajun, and the others boarded the boat, and as the boatman called out his chant, the vessel cast off from the dock just as dawn broke.

At that moment, dark clouds rolled in from the northwest, as if a heavy downpour was imminent.

Gu Zhengchen looked at the sky and then back at Shanyang City, his brows furrowing slightly.

Sun Shibiao and Gu Cheng were also somewhat surprised. According to the burning time of the incense sticks, they should have detonated by now. Could it be that the devices Master made didn't work?

Just then, a muffled explosion erupted from the distance, followed immediately by another thunderous roar.

Two deafening rumbles shook the entire prefecture of Huai'an.

Ren Guangzu, the Prefect of Huai'an, hurriedly led men to the scene. Looking at the nearly half-zhang section of the wall blown to ruins and the crater on the ground, he could not help but feel secretly alarmed.

"Prefect, I found something."

Assistant Prefect Zhou Gu picked up a slip of paper and handed it over.

Ren Guangzu unfolded it and was instantly stunned.

What terribly ugly handwriting.

Crooked and sprawling, with a string of messy circles, multiple smudges, and misspelled characters.

Yet the general meaning was still clear:

Release Zhao Sanxiu, the leader of the salt smugglers, otherwise three thousand salt smugglers will ravage Huai'an Prefecture, and every single vessel on the canal shall be plundered!

"Salt smugglers! Good, very good! How dare they threaten the imperial court!"

Wrath painted across his face, Ren Guangzu shouted sternly, "If I do not completely wipe out the salt smugglers of Huai'an Prefecture, I shall never leave Huai'an Prefecture! Investigate! I want to know who these salt smugglers are!"

Sniffing the scent of gunpowder, Zhou Gu said with a look of apprehension, "This explosion was caused by gunpowder. This matter is not as simple as mere salt smugglers. Prefect, we should memorialize the imperial court. The earlier we investigate and root them out, the safer it will be. Otherwise, the future troubles will be boundless."

"The wall of the Canal Transport Office was blown up as well! It was also left by the salt smugglers, claiming that if Zhao Sanxiu is not released, they will sever the northward canal transport."

A Vice Prefect rushed over to report.

Ren Guangzu let out a cold laugh. These salt smugglers really had quite some backbone!

Boom!

Rumbling thunder rolled in, followed instantly by a torrential downpour.

The pelting rain washed down, turning the scattered gunpowder residue around the craters into muddy water that pooled in the depressions and washed away into the drains. The sky grew dark, and flashes of lightning began to lash across the heavens, constantly alternating light and shadow upon people's faces...