Chapter 687 He truly never went to a brothel!
Whether thirty-four, thirty-five, and forty-eight count as meritorious service is for Mr. Debuke to judge.
Li Dalang and his group of over ten people, who lived far from Jiangnan East Circuit, had already left Shule and were heading towards Xizhou (present-day Turpan region). (Chapter 595 in the book's reader circle includes a simplified map of the Silk Road.)
Xizhou, with its advantageous geographical location, was not only an important supply point on the Silk Road, but also a vital transportation hub connecting Eurasia, making it a strategically vital location that was contested by military strategists.
Fortunately, the Tang Dynasty had a strong and well-equipped army. After destroying the Gaochang Kingdom, they renamed this place Xizhou.
As we traveled, the weather got warmer and warmer. When we arrived in Xizhou, it was enough to wear just an outer shirt at noon.
Li Dalang and his entourage, disguised as leather merchants, were currently queuing up, waiting to enter the city.
Li Dalang's target for this trip was the caravan of Shenji Trading Company, funded by the Shen family of Jiangnan, which had already entered the city long ago.
Because Shen Ji was a wealthy merchant and had been traveling this trade route for a long time, even though Li Dalang had sent Wang Dadan, who was pretending to be a traveler returning home alone, to observe them when they entered the city, they still couldn't find any fault with Shen Ji's business.
"Captain, I saw it clearly. Although the manager gave the constable guarding the city gate a purse as usual, the constable who inspected it didn't just look at the goods without even looking at them."
I watched from the sidelines, and it seemed that giving money to someone only allowed them to bypass the other people in line and get checked sooner.
This does not mean that we can skip the inspection or simply leave it at that.
I saw it clearly: after the head constable accepted the bribe, although he gave the inspectors a wink, the four men still dutifully checked every cart, even demanding that they open and inspect the tightly wrapped sacks.
Li Dalang nodded, but didn't say anything else to Wang Dadan. He only said, "It's alright. We just need to remember what the Shen family business did along the way. What happens afterward will be judged by those above."
"You've been exhausted for the past two weeks. You and the others take turns showering to relax, and we'll all have hot pot together tonight."
"Squad leader, what about Chen Ji? Shouldn't we keep an eye on him?"
"Or, I can go alone. I'm not tired. What I've come this far is nothing compared to the hardships we endured during our long march back then."
When Li Dalang heard Wang Dadan mention the events of that year, he couldn't help but think of the dozens of people who had died. After a moment of stunned silence, Li Dalang stood up and patted Wang Dadan on the shoulder, saying, "No need. This place is a major transportation route, and it is the most prosperous place within a hundred miles."
"Shen Ji and his group will definitely rest here for at least two days. Don't worry, we won't lose them."
With Li Dalang's confirmation, Wang Dadan finally breathed a sigh of relief, "If the captain says so, then it must be true."
Just as Li Dalang had said, Shen Ji and his group did indeed stay in the city for three whole days.
During these three days, in addition to arranging the tasks and actions of the dozen or so people who came with him, Li Dalang also personally led Wang Dadan to keep an eye on Shen Fangming, the manager of Shen Ji's group.
However, Li Dalang and Wang Dadan, who had followed Shen Fangming for three whole days, truly did not notice that he had spoken with any suspicious people.
Back at their rented place that night, Gao Haiping and the others, who had been assigned other tasks by Li Dalang during the day, explained their discoveries to Li Dalang one by one.
"There's nothing unusual about it. It's perfectly normal for someone who's arrived here to visit the official in charge of commerce the next day."
We are a disguised small merchant caravan. When we arrive at this place, the managers of the wealthy merchants' businesses will have a drink with the official.
It wasn't for any particular purpose; it was just a matter of being polite to the officials and getting to know them so that I could get firsthand information if there were any imperial edicts in the future.
These are all common tactics used by businessmen; they're nothing serious.
Li Dalang asked Gao Haiping, "Did you discover anything strange?"
Gao Haiping's hesitant manner aroused curiosity not only in Li Dalang but also in everyone else in the room.
"Just speak up. Whatever seems strange to you might be our breakthrough point."
After a slight hesitation, Gao Haiping told Li Dalang about the strange thing he had discovered: "Squad leader, the brothers are all honest people. We are just on a mission, and we are all being honest."
However, generally speaking, when these traveling merchants arrive at a supply depot and have a proper rest, almost every man there will visit a brothel.
However, when Li Dalang, who was only sixteen years old, heard the words "brothel," he understood what Gao Haiping meant by the strange thing.
Gao Haiping didn't see contempt or disgust on Li Dalang's face; instead, he saw Li Dalang's furrowed brows and tightly pursed lips.
Li Dalang guessed in his heart but did not speak. He continued to look at Gao Haiping. Before Gao Haiping could speak, Wang Dadan chimed in from the side: "What's wrong?"
None of the people from Shenji Trading Company went to the brothel?
"No, Shen Fangming and the other three managers didn't go. Apart from going to drink with the manager of the other two businesses on the first day, the four of them spent the entire two days shopping in the city and relaxing in the only teahouse in the city. They really didn't go to a brothel even once during those three days!"
"Strange! Something's definitely strange here!"
Although Li Dalang was not married, he was well aware of the unclean nature of men's lives. After all, the Li family practiced medicine, and the Li family had an enlightened male elder like Li's father, who had told Li Dalang about nocturnal emission from a young age, and also said that only through sexual intercourse between a man and a woman could a child be conceived.
Although Li Dalang had never put it into practice, he was very knowledgeable in theory.
Therefore, what Gao Haiping said is indeed strange.
It's understandable that the lowly servants in the caravan wouldn't go to brothels, but the fact that Shen Fangming and the other three stewards didn't go is truly unacceptable.
After hearing Gao Haiping's words, Wang Dadan and the others started discussing it amongst themselves.
"Could it be that Shen Fangming is incompetent?"
The remaining managers were afraid that going would offend Shen Fangming.
"How old is Shen Fang next year?"
Li Dalang answered Wang Dadan's question directly, "I'm only thirty-eight, not old at all."
Gao Haiping was a bit older and already married with children back in his hometown. He continued Li Dalang's words, saying, "Even if Shen Fangming is really past his prime at this age, he won't stop going to brothels."
Even if it's just inviting a courtesan to drink and listen to music, I would never refuse!
This is a matter of male dignity. Shen Fangming is thirty-eight; even if he were seventy-eight, he would definitely go.
"There was definitely a problem!"
"Come, tell me again in detail the itinerary of the other three stewards you've been monitoring for the past three days."
Continue read on readnovelmtl.com