Fang Wushang rarely ca to Gaojia Village.
He was a very busy man, spending his days rushing all over Chengcheng County capturing bandits.
Of course, ever since the Deity manifested in the county town, the common folks had food to eat and clothes to wear. Why would anyone still beco a bandit? Only a fool would act as a bandit under the watchful eyes of a god. Who wants to get smacked?
Thus, Fang Wushang’s job beca sowhat idle.
Recently, he spent more ti patrolling the borders of the county. For instance, when Fan Shanyue accepted the appeasent and the bandits returned to their villages, Fang Wushang was stationed at Quangou Village. Later, hearing that Wang Jiayin’s water forces attacked Jiachuan, he stationed himself at Quangou Village once more.
Not long ago, upon learning that various bandit groups had crossed the Yellow River eastward into Shanxi, and Bu Zhan Ni might lead his troops through Chengcheng County, Fang Wushang rushed to Fengyuan Town, the northwesternmost part of the county, and stationed himself there to guard against Bu Zhan Ni’s arrival.
He kept rotating like this, going from place to place, without a single day of rest.
It wasn’t until the nearby bandits all went off to Shanxi, bringing temporary safety to the Shaanxi region, that he finally had a bit of free ti.
The weather today was nice. Clear skies, with a gentle breeze…
Fang Wushang rode his horse to Gaojia Village to make an inspection. Liang Shixian’s words echoed in his mind, and he decided he would co to Gaojia Village more often from now on, keeping an eye on these villagers ard with the weapons, equipnt, and supplies bestowed by the Deity to ensure they didn’t engage in unlawful activities.
Fang Wushang had just entered the village when he encountered Xing Honglang. She was leading a rchant caravan back to Gaojia Village, after just raking in profits from the wealthy nobles in Xi’an. She was almost at the village entrance.
Fang Wushang caught up from behind and rode past Xing Honglang on his horse.
Xing Honglang called out, “Hey? Isn’t this the Patrol Officer of Chengcheng, General Fang Wushang?”
Hearing the call, Fang Wushang tugged the reins and stopped his horse. He turned to look at Xing Honglang. She looked vaguely familiar. After thinking hard, he remarked, “Huh? I’ve seen you before. You’re that woman who looks exactly like a salt smuggler but sells sugar.”
Xing Honglang chuckled inwardly: After all this ti, he still thinks I sell sugar? This guy’s amusing.
She laughed a couple of tis. “I don’t just sell sugar anymore. Look, I sell embroidery, blades and swords, those amazing seasonings the Deity gave us, fine liquor… and I brought all sorts of strange and wonderful goods back from Xi’an. General Fang, want to take a look at this Japanese samurai blade? Top quality, only five taels of silver.”
This truly caught Fang Wushang’s interest.
Though Japanese blades weren’t perfectly suited for Ming battlefields, their exquisite craftsmanship made them excellent ornants. During the Ming Dynasty, many wealthy people collected Japanese blades. Many scholars even hung one at their waists when going out – obviously not for hacking people, just for decorative flair to barely maintain a semblance of refinent in life…
Fang Wushang dismounted and stood before Xing Honglang. “Let see that Japanese blade. If it’s genuinely good, I’ll buy it.”
As he dismounted, his hundred soldiers finally caught up behind him, panting heavily. “General Fang… Wait for us…”
Turns out this guy rode ahead alone on his horse again, never having had the good habit of waiting for his subordinates to travel together.
Xing Honglang took a Japanese samurai blade from her goods rack and handed it to Fang Wushang. He examined the blade but kept walking forward. “Don’t stop. Let’s talk as we walk.”
Xing Honglang thought: This guy truly has a restless personality. She couldn’t resist teasing him. “General Fang, you seem quite idle. Stopped chasing salt smugglers everywhere?”
Fang Wushang sighed lightly. “With the chaos of war these days, where are there even salt smugglers active? Grain transport into Shaanxi from Shanxi has been banned. If grain can’t get in anymore, what’s the use of salt getting in? I’ve heard the biggest and most famous salt smuggler in Shanxi disappeared from Shanxi’s trade routes years ago… Now I wouldn’t even know where to find a salt smuggler to arrest.”
Xing Honglang decided to tease him further and chuckled. “Let tell you, there’s a huge smuggled salt dealer in Gaojia Village. You could arrest him.”
Fang Wushang’s expression turned fierce. “Who?”
Xing Honglang pointed towards the low cloud floating in the sky. “See, here He cos. It’s the Deity himself! He gave salt to everyone in Chengcheng County. Isn’t that the biggest smuggled salt dealer of all?”
Fang Wushang was taken aback. “You…”
This…
Logically… that actually holds a bizarre sort of water, doesn’t it?
Fang Wushang was instantly overwheld by a feeling of helplessness – “Ah, I ought to arrest Him… but I absolutely can’t defeat Him!” But he was obstinate, not stupid. After a mont of wrestling with the absurdity, suddenly a counterpoint occurred to him. “Your reasoning is flawed! The Deity bestows salt upon mortals. He doesn’t take paynt from us mortals. This is an act of grace, a gift! It’s not trade! How can you call him a smuggled salt dealer? That’s not right! Not right at all!”
Li Daoxuan happened to have his viewpoint shifted over just then and overheard this. He almost laughed out loud. This guy is interesting.
Xing Honglang, intent on ssing with him, wasn’t going to let him off that easily. She continued, “But after the Deity bestowed the divine salt, the villagers sell it. Look, there’s a village-operated salt shop in the Gaojia Business Circle selling exactly the salt bestowed by the Deity. Here I suggest you arrest Thirty-Two.”
Fang Wushang froze again. “You…”
This…
Logically… that actually holds a bizarre sort of water again, doesn’t it?
Fang Wushang started agonizing over it once more. Should I arrest him or shouldn’t I?
He wrestled with it for quite so ti before finally saying, “He deserves arrest. That’s correct. I ought to arrest Thirty-Two.”
He had barely formulated that course of action when Xing Honglang dropped another bombshell. “Oh, and also, the official salt shop under the Chengcheng county governnt ran out of salt long ago. Lord Liang had the governnt salt storehouse co to Gaojia Village to get their stock. So… Lord Liang Liang Shixian has also beco part of the smuggled salt trade. You ought to arrest Lord Liang too.”
Fang Wushang was utterly stunned. “You!”
That’s true!
Lord Liang’s actions were improper. He deserves arrest.
But…
How can the revered Magistrate of a county be a smuggled salt dealer?
His mind instantly overloaded, thoughts tangling into a complete ss. His brain felt like the Sharp Knife Troop had chopped it up into mince.
Xing Honglang succeeded in her teasing and couldn’t help but burst out laughing.
Li Daoxuan was also greatly amused. “Yiye, Fang Wushang’s here. Go call him up to the watchtower for a chat.”
Fang Wushang stood there, his mind filled solely with confusion over the dilemma of Lord Liang selling smuggled salt. He drifted along, lost and dazedly. He’d entirely forgotten about appreciating the Japanese blade. When Xing Honglang casually asked him, “Do you want it?” Fang Wushang, in his daze, instinctively pulled out five taels of silver and paid.
He didn’t even consciously register buying the blade.
He only snapped back partially to reality when he walked further into Gaojia Village and stood near the entrance, hearing Gao Yiye call out, “General Fang, got ti for a chat?”
Fang Wushang jolted as if waking up. “Huh? Where’s that sugar rchant? Her Japanese blade is still with . I haven’t paid her yet!”
The deputy inspector hurried over. “General, you paid.”
Fang Wushang reacted with confusion. “Eh? When did I pay?” Wasn’t I just contemplating the taphysics and legality of divinely distributed salt?
Gao Yiye gave a small smile. “General Fang, this way please.”
Fang Wushang imdiately lapsed back into a dazed state of preoccupation and followed her.
His soldiers, seeing their boss was clearly not paying them any mind, cheered instantly. “Co on! Let’s go check out the Gaojia Business Circle! It’s even more exciting than the county seat!”
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