Chapter 45 The prison is on the verge of rioting! ...
Tianjin, formerly known as Jizhou.
It's said that every resident here can tell a stand-up comedy routine, though Fusu hasn't personally verified this. However, one of his university classmates from Tianjin, well, he certainly lives up to the stereotype.
Thanks to this classmate, the moment San Niang's accent became apparent, Fusu realized her birthplace. But a problem soon followed—
Jingjue blurted out, "We can't reach that place!"
"yes……"
Fusu felt a headache coming on.
The loss of the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun is an ancient historical legacy. Later generations often criticize the "weak Song Dynasty," but in this matter, the Song Dynasty wasn't truly to blame. It was ceded to the Liao Dynasty (then called the Khitan) by Emperor Shi Jingtang of the Later Tang Dynasty during the Five Dynasties and Ten Kingdoms period. The subsequent Northern Zhou and Northern Song dynasties attempted to reclaim it, but ultimately failed.
It wasn't until several centuries later, when Zhu Yuanzhang established the Ming Dynasty, that this place returned to the embrace of the Central Plains.
Therefore, it was virtually impossible to send San Niang back to her hometown of Jizhou through official means. Not only would the government not go to great lengths for a mere orphan girl, but even if Fusu used his "fatherly influence" to make an exception, the checks along the Liao-Song border were extremely rigorous. San Niang would face immense difficulties just to get through, and she would also likely be suspected of being a spy and subjected to surveillance by the Liao government.
"Besides, the border is very, very far from Jizhou..."
Fusu sighed in a mature and aged manner.
Given San Niang's current physical condition, it would be very difficult for her to walk across the distance between two provinces.
Fusu's voice was like soft cotton, but the content was rather cold, instantly extinguishing San Niang's joy at learning about her hometown.
The light in her eyes went out all at once.
"Is there no other way...?"
Fusu paused for a moment: Actually, there is another way, which is for the Song Dynasty to recover its lost territories and turn the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun into its own legitimate territory. But given the current strength of the nation, anyone who dares to even consider this idea is delusional.
He pursed his lips, but ultimately remained silent.
Third Sister stood silently in the dark corner, like a thin piece of paper that would easily crumble in the wind. She didn't speak, and everyone else followed suit. The air in the cramped little room seemed to freeze.
It was Fusu who finally broke the deadlock. He couldn't bear to see even the last vestige of someone's affection shattered: "Third Sister, don't you want to know what your homeland is like? I happen to know some things, let me tell you."
Jizhou. It was called Wuzhong in the Han Dynasty and Yuyang in the Tang Dynasty.
A precious port in the north.
A strategic location fought over by military strategists throughout history.
Panshan Mountain. Limutai. Baxianshan Mountain. Dule Temple.
Donkey rolling (a type of glutinous rice ball). Reservoir fish.
There's also crosstalk, which everyone knows how to tell a bit of.
Fusu skillfully blended the characteristics of ancient and modern Jizhou and Tianjin, leaving no one present able to decipher his meaning. After his eloquent speech, not only did San Niang's body shift slightly, no longer stiff and embarrassed as before, but even Jingjue and the two servants listened with longing.
The despair in San Niang's eyes gradually turned into a deep sense of melancholy. Suddenly, as if she had thought of something, she asked, "Your Highness, you said that Jizhou is located by the sea? Then could I... could I swim back by sea?"
"……Well?"
Fusu suddenly felt that compared to this crazy idea, recovering the Sixteen Prefectures of Youyun seemed more promising.
"I knew it wouldn't work." Third Sister gave a bitter laugh. But Fusu felt that she hadn't given up deep down.
“Bianjing is good too.” Although it was somewhat cruel, Fusu still tried to persuade him: “Starting a new life here is just as good.”
Although her hometown was wonderful, given that San Niang even remembered where it was, the possibility of her returning home to reunite with her family was virtually zero. But Fusu knew even better that San Niang's life in Bianjing was miserable. She was a woman bought and brought back, and her hometown became her Shangri-La, her only solace.
even……
“When my sisters and I were sold, we comforted each other by saying that one day we would be able to return to our homeland.”
"Most of them also come from the north."
Third Sister said softly, "I'm afraid I won't have the chance, just like me."
Those who heard this all showed sympathy, and Fusu was not only sympathetic but also terrified: it seemed that someone was smuggling and trafficking people on the Liao-Song border.
How many sisters were there in total at that time?
"There were eighteen... no, nineteen people in total. Wan Niang, Wan Niang died on the way."
It was not only a gang crime, but also a large-scale operation.
They even have connections with the border authorities.
Just as Fusu was about to ask another question, he was immediately interrupted by a violent knocking on the door, accompanied by shouting and cursing. It was like the thugs who had turned on stereo reverberation when they were causing trouble.
Third Sister was stunned.
Her body trembled violently, and she nearly fainted. Fusu rushed over and grabbed her hand, using his own body as a support to keep her from falling. At the same time, he gave Jingjue and the servants a wink.
Third Sister let out a weak, desperate plea: "No, please don't let them in..."
"Don't be afraid, Third Sister, we're not alone this time."
"squeak--"
The door was wide open. Fusu could see that there were two men outside, neither of whom looked like good people. Their figures blocked most of the sunlight, and they were spitting as they spoke, probably uttering some vulgar and offensive language. But Fusu couldn't hear them because his little ears were covered by San Niang.
Fusu was taken aback: So he was being protected instead?
He snapped out of his daze and immediately said without hesitation, "Little master, please, tell them to shut up—"
"Don't be afraid, there are many of us!"
Actually, there was no need for so many people. Jingjue simply punched each person, knocking them to the ground. He then punched each of them in the face, successfully making them cry out in pain and unable to retaliate. Everyone except Fusu, including the nearby residents who were watching the spectacle from afar, was stunned.
The two servants snapped out of their daze and quickly pinned the thugs to the ground, giving them no chance to retaliate.
"alright."
Fusu said, "They've shut up, Third Sister, please let go."
"who are they?"
"Yes... he's that person's friend. They often get together to play Pai Gow, and that person owes them money, so he always comes to me for it. If I don't pay him, that person beats me up."
"Then that person went inside, and they came straight to you?"
Third Sister nodded.
"Why didn't you tell me about this!" Jingjue complained, only to receive an apologetic smile from San Niang. He was still angry, so he punched each of the two thugs in the face, and the thugs cried out in pain.
One of them said something threatening that San Niang would make her pay in the future, and then he was punched three times by Jing Jue.
“I’ll come here regularly and beat you up every time I see you,” he threatened.
Fusu shook his head fiercely: "What's the point of coming again? There's no such thing as being a thief for a thousand days, but you can't guard against thieves for a thousand days."
Then he said to Third Sister, "Sister, look, this place is so dilapidated and there's no sunlight. If you stay here for too long, you'll get sick sooner or later. It would be better to move to a sunny place, at least your eyes will be more comfortable when you do needlework."
Besides, he glanced coldly at the neighbors who were watching the commotion. Not only did they not help when the thug knocked on the door, but they even squeezed in to watch the show? What did they want to see? Purely wicked neighbors; it's best not to associate with them!
Third Sister's expression clearly showed interest, but she hesitated, clutching her handkerchief tightly: "But I... I'm not used to living with men..."
"What about the women who were with you on this journey?"
Third Sister's eyes suddenly turned cold. She stammered, "I... I know where they are now! I've even secretly met with a few of them!"
"This will be a great help," Fusu said.
Then, he led Third Sister out of the alley. She stood in the sun, her eyes stinging and watering. But her steps showed no sign of reluctance.
They went to the Great Xiangguo Temple together, and Jingjue immediately reported to the abbot to request a quiet and secluded courtyard—this was an order from His Highness Prince Cheng. Fusu then picked up paper and pen and wrote a letter to the Eighth Prince Zhao Yuanyan.
He himself wanted to take charge of Third Sister's affairs, but the Imperial Academy physically limited his ability to do so. The Emperor was in the same situation, confined to the palace and unable to manage matters in the marketplace. After much deliberation, he could only entrust the remaining matters to the Eighth Prince.
This includes the daily life of San Niang and the search for the other trafficked individuals.
as well as……
Fusu wrote down his speculations about the human trafficking gangs on the Liao-Song border with an exceptionally solemn and serious tone. He also stated, "Eighth Uncle, this matter is of great importance. I dare not trust anyone else. Of all the people I can entrust with this task, you are the only one in the entire city of Bianjing."
Although what he said was exaggerated, it was definitely not a lie. If what San Niang said was true, how could the border be unaware of the trafficking of eighteen or nineteen people? There must be someone covering for them, and it might not even be just one party, but rather a collaboration between the two countries.
What if we think about it a step further?
It's already terrifying that pitiful women like San Niang are trafficked as resources. But would a powerful gang stop at just human trafficking? Tea, horses… even military weapons. There are far more lucrative things than human trafficking.
Fusu didn't even dare to reveal this matter to any official. You can know a person's face but not their heart; who dared to gamble that someone in the court might interfere in matters concerning the border?
After receiving the letter, the servant immediately returned home. Leaving aside how horrified the Eighth Prince was upon reading the letter, how he immediately tidied his clothes and went to the palace to meet the Emperor, only leaving hastily in the evening, the matter of Third Sister's stay at Xiangguo Temple proceeded incredibly smoothly.
Jingjue's use of the "Prince Cheng's" name was more effective than anything else. The abbot readily approved the courtyard, with a negligible monthly rent. Even when Jingjue vaguely hinted at possible involvement in the Liao-Song border affairs, he solemnly ordered the entire temple to strictly protect the courtyard's security—the Great Xiangguo Temple did not want to suffer a second Waterloo like the Western Xia delegation!
"It can't be that unlucky, can it..."
Fusu muttered to himself.
However, he still strictly ordered Jingjue to keep the secret. The situation was still unclear. If the worst guess came true, they would still have the advantage of the enemy being in the open while they were in the dark.
"Zhao Xiaolang, you really are here!"
Fusu immediately recognized the voice and was quite surprised. He looked at Su Shi, who had suddenly appeared outside the door, his forehead covered in sweat: "What are you doing here? Didn't that person take you back to the Imperial Academy?"
“I went back, but the head priest asked us to find you again. As soon as I heard ‘Master Jingjue,’ I guessed that you must be at the Great Xiangguo Temple!”
"Chancellor? What happened?"
"Your outrageous plan to have students grow vegetables has somehow leaked out, and the prison is on the verge of rioting!"
"Come back with me now!"
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